1. Ulrich Breunig History Development Composition Seat Lisbon Treaty 3.4.2008Economia 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

2. Ulrich Breunig History Development Composition Seat Lisbon Treaty 3.4.2008Economia 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)

3. Ulrich Breunig History Development Composition Seat Lisbon Treaty 3.4.2008Economia UE History I The Beginning: Sporadic, informal meetings during the 1960’s of leaders of European Community

4. Ulrich Breunig History Development Composition Seat Lisbon Treaty 3.4.2008Economia UE History II 1969: The Hague summit: –Admittance of UK –Foreign policy cooperation

5. Ulrich Breunig History Development Composition Seat Lisbon Treaty 3.4.2008Economia 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

6. Ulrich Breunig History Development Composition Seat Lisbon Treaty 3.4.2008Economia UE Development of the Meetings I From small, informal “meetings by the fireside” only including the states’ leaders, without press presence

7. Ulrich Breunig History Development Composition Seat Lisbon Treaty 3.4.2008Economia UE Development of the Meetings II To avg. 4 meetings per year with ministers, ambassadors, interpreters, approx. 2000 journalists and 12000 security agents

8. Ulrich Breunig History Development Composition Seat Lisbon Treaty 3.4.2008Economia UE Composition I Body consists of: Heads of states (prime minister / chancellor…) Commission President (non voting)

9. Ulrich Breunig History Development Composition Seat Lisbon Treaty 3.4.2008Economia 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

10. Ulrich Breunig History Development Composition Seat Lisbon Treaty 3.4.2008Economia 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

11. Ulrich Breunig History Development Composition Seat Lisbon Treaty 3.4.2008Economia UE Seat (now) II 2008/I: Slovenia Janez Janša Head of Council of the European Union: Dimitrij Rupel

12. Ulrich Breunig History Development Composition Seat Lisbon Treaty 3.4.2008Economia UE 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

13. Ulrich Breunig History Development Composition Seat Lisbon Treaty 3.4.2008Economia UE 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/european_council/index_en.htm http://europa.eu/lisbon_treaty/ (21.3.2008)http://europa.eu/lisbon_treaty/ http://www.eu2006.gv.at/en/index.html?null (21.3.2008)http://www.eu2006.gv.at/en/index.html?null http://www.eapn.org (21.3.2008)http://www.eapn.org This presentation can be downloaded at http://www.ulix.at.tfhttp://www.ulix.at.tf