European Council

The European Council indicates the top Heads of State or heads of government of the twenty-seven Member States of the European Union and the president of the European commission. They are assisted by the Foreign Ministers and a Member of the Commission. The first top takes place in 1961; this council becomes an abstract body the December 9th and 10th 1974 in Paris at the time of a top of the European Economic community (the EEC), on the initiative of the president Giscard d'Estaing. He sees thereafter his existence devoted by the treaty of the Single act in 1986.

He at least meets twice a year (in the end of each presidency), but it also happens that he meets sometimes “informellement” in the country which holds the presidency of Conseil.
The purpose of these meetings are to define the main roads of the policy of the Union (especially as regards foreign politics). The European Council is also charged to appoint every five years the president of the European commission.

Presidency of the European Council

The presidency of the European Council is allotted, for six months, in turn, with each Member State of the European Union, it is a rotating presidency. The changes of presidency are carried out each year on January 1st and on July 1st. It is the Head of the State or the government of the country which holds the presidency which ensures this role.

Future possible changes

The project of European Constitution envisages the election of a president of the European Council, having a one duration mandate of two years and half. The system of rotating presidency becomes with difficulty gérable in a European Union with twenty-seven country: each country will exert it, indeed, only every thirteen years and half…

Unfolding

Until 2004, the European Councils, which generally last two days, took place in a city of the country assuming the presidency of the Council. Since the coming into effect of the treaty of Nice, in February 2003, the two Councils per annum were to take place in Brussels. Since May 1st, 2004, the European Councils take place from now on all with Brussels (with the “Juste Lipse”).

The European Council brings together all the Heads of State or of government of the Member States of the European Union and chair it European commission. France is represented there by the President of the Republic and, in period of cohabitation, by the Prime Minister.

The Heads of State or government are assisted by the Foreign Ministers and a member of the European commission, generally the Police chief in charge of the foreign relations. The Ministers for the Economic affairs and finances take part in the meetings relating to the single currency. The General secretary of the Council of the European Union, the general secretary of the European commission and some civils servant are also present.

The decisions are made by consensus at the conclusion of negotiations between the Member States, started well before the top. At the conclusion of each meeting, the presidency publishes the Conclusions of the European top. The decisions of the European Council do not have a legal authenticity. So that they are approved, it is necessary that they are the subject of a proposal of the European commission and of a vote of the the European Parliament and Conseil of the European Union.

Composition

The participants at an European Council are:
  • heads of state and government of the Member States of the European Union,
  • the president of the European commission and one of its members,
  • Foreign Ministers of the Member States of the European Union,
  • the general secretary of the Council of the Union, High representative for the PESC,
  • the general secretary of the European commission,
  • the president of the the European Parliament, which is invited to meet the heads of state and government,
  • and other civils servant according to the priorities defined by the presidency.

Heads of State or government Europeans

  • fatty En, the Member State occupying the presidency of the European Union and the Head of the State being President of the Council européen.

Political affiliations

The chiefs of Member State are generally member of a political party at the national level and much of these parties are related to European political parties.

There is not, for the moment, of alliance between European political party at the European Council; Heads of States representing their Member State initially.

Nevertheless, table below watch the power struggle which would be established at the European Council if this last were to be brought to be politicized. Moreover one can notice a difference in representation compared to the assembly, elected by the direct suffrage, of the the European Parliament.

Relations with the others European Institutions

  • Relations with the the European Parliament:
    • each top begin with a declaration from the president from the European Parliament
    • the president from the European Council presents in front of the members of Parliament the activity of its six months of presidency and founds a debate with the European deputies.

  • Relations with the European commission:

    • the president of the European commission takes part in the meetings of the European Council. At the conclusion of the tops, the European Council writes conclusions which he addresses to the European commission.

  • Relations with the the Council of the European Union:

    • the Council (of the ministers) of the European Union prepares the meetings of the European Council and adopts, with the European Parliament, the legal texts which will translate into actions the orientations fixed by the Heads of State or government.

Some meetings of the European Council

External bonds

  • the European Council on the site touteleurope.fr
  • Conclusions of the European Councils since 1993
  • founders of the European Union
  • European Council - European NAvigator

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