1. The Presidency’s relations with the other institutions The European Parliament (1) ● The presidency presents its programme to the EP at the beginning of its term of office ● At the end of the term, it reports to the Parliament on progress achieved.  Each of these interventions is followed by a debate  Special preparation is needed ● complexity  coordination ● huge overload to the staff ● special training for the preparation ● AGRI + FISH + ENVI = 3 x 2 occasions „during” the PRES

2. The Presidency’s relations with the other institutions The European Parliament (2) ● The President of the European Council submits an oral report to the EP following the meeting of the EC ● (Yearly written report) ● Plenary sittings: MRD – no tasks. (MFA – yes) ● Not compulsory occasions:  At formal sitting of the EP on the occasion of visits by Heads of State or Government, the Presidency may be represented  The President of the EC does not make any statement on these occasions, but is invited to the meal accompanies such visits  There may be private meetings between the PRES and the Heads of State or Government visiting the Parliament. ● PRES is the chair of the CWG, not the representative of the Hungarian view. (Compromise or national interests?)

3. The Presidency’s relations with the other institutions The European Parliament (3) ● Committees:  ??? Lisbon  Exchange of views (sectorial) – relevant EP committees  The PRES is invited to most EP committees  The minister makes a brief statement and answers questions on matters within his field. ● The GSC assist in preparing these statements ● Practice is one EoV, but increasingly some committees want two EoV’s

4. The Presidency’s relations with the other institutions The European Parliament (4) ● Trialogues:  Linked to specific issues  PRES of the EC, Commissioner, president or vice president of the EP, and the chairperson of the relevant EP committee, as well as some officials. ● budgetary matters, ● horizontal issues, ● management of procedures  The rule of co-decision procedure: the negotiation of compromise texts for reaching agreement on proposal for legislative acts  Strasbourg – periodically: informal tiralogue – to raise general policy questions, question of the operation of inter-institutional relations

5. The Presidency’s relations with the other institutions GSC (1)  close cooperation  helping hand of the PRES  advisor  information source  experienced in tactics reaching consensus  represents the EC as well ● it thinks that the position of the PRES is against the Treaty ● obstruct the agreement (in case of weak majority)

6. The Presidency’s relations with the other institutions GSC (2)  writes report from the meetings  spreading the documents to the EC and the COREPER  spreading the documents to the delegations ● the PRES papers as well  involves itself and the PRES in the preparatory part of the papers ● responsibility of the PRES (!)  without green-light, the GSC will not forward any documents

7. The Presidency’s relations with the other institutions Legal service of the Council  EP, COM, EC has an own LS ● sometimes they are in contrast with each other  PRES has to ask the LS to take part in a meeting if it is necessary  Personal relations are crucial  better to discuss not in front of the other MS  Their opinion is decisive (better to take into consideration)  If the different LS’s views are in contrast  HU legal experts

8. The Presidency’s relations with the other institutions Other Institutions ● Joint parliamentary committees in the context of agreements with third States (HR, IZL) ● EC – draw up the programme  GSC ● Court of Justice ● Court of Auditors ● Committee of the Regions and the Economic and Social Committee ● PRES is often asked to participate at conferences  COP, COB-COSAC, COR ● National Bodies

9. The Presidency’s relations with the other institutions Media ● The Presidency should be the first speaker in a press conference after a meeting  an expert has to write the press release during the meeting  fast overview from the speaker  no time for deeper evaluation  chairperson has to inform the media about the timing of the press conference

10. PRES in the decision making system of the EU ● The role of the PRES has changed  chairmanship  agenda-setting  brokerage  representation  leadership ● PRES: Separate Body in the Body  agreements  running the negotiations  daily functioning of the EU

11. The role of the PRES - Chairmanship ● managing the agenda ● chairing the meetings and the discussions ● to call the Council Meetings ● planning the timing of the meeting ● preparing the aganda ● spreading the papers  efficient  effective

12. The role of the PRES – Agenda setting ● PRES sets up the agenda ● Items are inherited from the previous PRES’s ● priority areas / lists  150-200 legislative acts are adopted (!) ● to control the rhythm of the negotiations (speed up or slow down) ● approach / focus / influence ● items can be put on the freeze

13. The role of the PRES – Brokerage ● MS avoiding the open confrontation ● consensus finding ● solidarity – „no” voting – no target ● handling the minority  convincing or building in their approach ● PRES = neutral - honest broker  special relations, special interest  in reality: PRES seems to be neutral  open support of the minority is sticky ● PRES keeps certain information (!)  GSC summing up the positions of the MS, briefings etc.  helping hand in tactics, procedural and legal issues,  bilaterals  to get know the borders of their compromise ability  complex information about the „team”

14. The role of the PRES – Representation ● negotiation in the name of the MS’s ● representing the MS ● EC is represented by the MS (mainly in informal meetings) ● PRES can negotiate with 3rd States (candidates) ● Represent the MS’s approved positions  flexibility for success

15. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION! Nándor Béki Ministry of Rural Development 1055. Budapest, Kossuth L. tér 11. E-mail: Nandor.Beki@vm.gov.hu Tel.: +36 1 795-2001