Ulrich Breunig History Development Composition Seat Lisbon Treaty Economia UE “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

Ulrich Breunig History Development Composition Seat Lisbon Treaty Economia UE 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)

Ulrich Breunig History Development Composition Seat Lisbon Treaty Economia UE History I The Beginning: Sporadic, informal meetings during the 1960’s of leaders of European Community

Ulrich Breunig History Development Composition Seat Lisbon Treaty Economia UE History II 1969: The Hague summit: –Admittance of UK –Foreign policy cooperation

Ulrich Breunig History Development Composition Seat Lisbon Treaty Economia UE 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

Ulrich Breunig History Development Composition Seat Lisbon Treaty Economia UE Development of the Meetings I From small, informal “meetings by the fireside” only including the states’ leaders, without press presence

Ulrich Breunig History Development Composition Seat Lisbon Treaty Economia UE Development of the Meetings II To avg. 4 meetings per year with ministers, ambassadors, interpreters, approx journalists and security agents

Ulrich Breunig History Development Composition Seat Lisbon Treaty Economia UE Composition I Body consists of: Heads of states (prime minister / chancellor…) Commission President (non voting)

Ulrich Breunig History Development Composition Seat Lisbon Treaty Economia UE 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

Ulrich Breunig History Development Composition Seat Lisbon Treaty Economia UE Seat (now) I Rotates following the system of Council Presedencies every 6 months (Council of the European Union, “Council of Ministers”) Working together in Triplets, i.e.: formeractualdesignated 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

Ulrich Breunig History Development Composition Seat Lisbon Treaty Economia UE Seat (now) II 2008/I: Slovenia Janez Janša Head of Council of the European Union: Dimitrij Rupel

Ulrich Breunig History Development Composition Seat Lisbon Treaty Economia UE Lisbon Treaty Signed 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

Ulrich Breunig History Development Composition Seat Lisbon Treaty Economia UE Thank you for your attention! Sources: Hitiris, T. (2003): European Union Economics, 5th edition. Schmidt, (2005): Die Europäische Union, 3. Auflage ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) This presentation can be downloaded at