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3.4.2008 Economia UE Ulrich Breunig
History
Development
Composition
Seat
Lisbon Treaty
“The European Council shall provide the Union with the necessary impetus for its development and shall
define the general political guidelines thereof”(Article 4 of the Treaty on European Union)
The European Council
3.4.2008 Economia UE Ulrich Breunig
History
Development
Composition
Seat
Lisbon Treaty
The European Council
• “European Summit”
• Highest political body of the EU
• ≠ Council of the European Union(ministerial level meeting of national governments)
• ≠ Council of Europe(non-EU organisation for human rights, 47 states)
3.4.2008 Economia UE Ulrich Breunig
History
Development
Composition
Seat
Lisbon Treaty
History I
The Beginning:
• Sporadic, informal meetings during the 1960’s of leaders of European Community
3.4.2008 Economia UE Ulrich Breunig
History
Development
Composition
Seat
Lisbon Treaty
History II
• 1969: The Hague summit:– Admittance of UK– Foreign policy cooperation
3.4.2008 Economia UE Ulrich Breunig
History
Development
Composition
Seat
Lisbon Treaty
History III
• 1974: Paris summit regular meetings
• 1987: Single European Act:included the meetings in the treaties
• 2002: formalization of the Seat
• 2007 Lisbon Treaty
3.4.2008 Economia UE Ulrich Breunig
History
Development
Composition
Seat
Lisbon Treaty
Development of the Meetings I
From small, informal “meetings by the fireside” only including the states’ leaders, without press presence
3.4.2008 Economia UE Ulrich Breunig
History
Development
Composition
Seat
Lisbon Treaty
Development of the Meetings II
To avg. 4 meetings per year with ministers, ambassadors, interpreters, approx. 2000 journalists and 12000 security agents
3.4.2008 Economia UE Ulrich Breunig
History
Development
Composition
Seat
Lisbon Treaty
Composition I
Body consists of:• Heads of states (prime minister /
chancellor…)• Commission President (non voting)
3.4.2008 Economia UE Ulrich Breunig
History
Development
Composition
Seat
Lisbon Treaty
Composition II
• Usually also national foreign ministers attend to the meetings
• Commission President is usually accompanied by another Commission member
• Other ministers/commissioners as required
3.4.2008 Economia UE Ulrich Breunig
History
Development
Composition
Seat
Lisbon Treaty
Seat (now) I
• Rotates following the system of Council Presedenciesevery 6 months(Council of the European Union, “Council of Ministers”)
• Working together in Triplets, i.e.:former actual designated
Council Presedency(2006/I)
Wolfgang Schüssel
Council Presedency(2005/II)
Tony Blair
Council Presedency(2006/II)
Matti Vanhanen
Council Presedency(2007/I)
Angela Merkel
Composition
Seat
Lisbon Treaty
3.4.2008 Economia UE Ulrich Breunig
History
Development
Composition
Seat
Lisbon Treaty
Seat (now) II
• 2008/I:
Slovenia
Janez Janša
Head of Council of the European Union: Dimitrij Rupel
3.4.2008 Economia UE Ulrich Breunig
History
Development
Composition
Seat
Lisbon Treaty
Lisbon Treaty
• Signed 13.12.2007
By 2009 (if ratified):
• President of the European Council will be elected for 2,5 years, one re-election possible
• Qualified majority among members of the body
3.4.2008 Economia UE Ulrich Breunig
History
Development
Composition
Seat
Lisbon Treaty
Thank you for your attention!
• Sources:
• Hitiris, T. (2003): European Union Economics, 5th edition.• Schmidt, (2005): Die Europäische Union, 3. Auflage• http://europa.eu/european_council/index_en.htm (21.3.2008)• http://europa.eu/lisbon_treaty/ (21.3.2008)• http://www.eu2006.gv.at/en/index.html?null (21.3.2008)• http://www.eapn.org (21.3.2008)
This presentation can be downloaded at http://www.ulix.at.tf
