EU E-Learning Units

HOME

CONTACT

 

E-Learning Unit 3: The EU Institutions and Modes of Governance

  1. Introduction
  2. The Treaty Establishing a Constitution for Europe
    1. Dissolving of the Pillar Structure
    2. Reforming the Union´s Competencies
      1. A Clear-Cut Catalogue of Competences?
      2. Categories of Competences
    3. Reforming the Procedures and Instruments
      1. Revision Procedures
      2. Legislative Procedures
      3. Budgetary Procedure
  3. A Revised Institutional Architecture
    1. The European Parliament
      1. Increase in Competence and Function
      2. With New Strength Towards a Bicameral System
      3. A Full-Fledged Parliament?
    2. The European Council
      1. An Expanded List of Tasks
      2. The President of the European Council
    3. The Council of Ministers
      1. Composition of the Council and its Presidency
      2. The New Majority Formula
      3. An Enhanced Ability?
    4. The Union Minister for Foreign Affairs
    5. The European Commission
      1. Reforms in the Light of European 'Leitideen'
      2. An Enhanced President of the Commission
      3. The College
  4. Perspectives
    1. Towards a New Institutional Balance?
    2. In a Fusion Trend?
    3. The TCE as a Further Step in the Evolution of European States?
  5. Further Readings

.

 

 

 

III.2.2 The President of the European Council

The heads of government seek to strengthen their organ's capacity for action and implementation:

To further strengthen this institution, the Constitutional Treaty envisages the creation of a new office: the installation of a President of the European Council (Art. I-21 TCE), to be elected by the heads of government only, i.e. without participation of the European Parliament, for a period of two-and-a-half years. While the exact profile of this position is only vaguely sketched out, the future President - as contrasted with the current system of 6-monthly rotation - is hoped to professionalise, stabilise and facilitate the work of the European Council, thus preparing the grounds for the continuing unanimous, or consensual, decision-making within it. A further task of the President would be the external representation of the Union "at his or her level and in that capacity" in a manner "without prejudice to the responsibilities of the Union Minister for Foreign Affairs" (Art. I-21 (2) TCE). This formulation hints at the potential conflicts between these two positions.

The job profile of the President of the European Council is not sketched out in great detail; while there are no special procedural rights foreseen, he/she will serve as a 'face' and 'voice' of the organ. There is, however, considerable scope for exerting influence onto other actors in the institutional architecture, via the rich list of tasks and the decisional powers of this organ. How effectively the President will be able to chair the European Council, drive forward its work and exert influence on other positions within the institutional landscape will probably depend foremost on his/her reputation amongst the heads of government.

Through a full-time President, whose designated tasks leave room for interpretation (Art. I-22 (2) TCE), the European Council could be tempted to penetrate the normal workings of other organs more directly and lastingly. His main duty could then be interpreted to be the "agent" of a "principal" when relating to other organs - especially the Council, the Foreign Minister and the Commission.

 

 

Links:

     

 

 

 

Art. I-21 Par.1 TCE 'The European Council'

1.The European Council shall provide the Union with the necessary impetus for its development and shall define the general political directions and priorities thereof. It shall not exercise legislative functions.

 

GLOSSARY: