DMEU - 10 exque Council of European Union Presidency

What are the roles and how powerful is the Presidency of the Council ?

The rotating presidency as two roles

1. administrative

   1. agenda setter = defines priorities

   2. organiser = org and chairs the meetings of the council formations. ( sauf foreign affairs)

   3. mediator = seeks to build consensus.

2. représentative

it’s a challenging task and takes 2.5 years of preparation

How to measure the success of a presidency

• ambition o the program

• number of meetings

• number of legislative files closed

A presidecny is powerfull because it can push or delay policies

Limites

• countries must coordinate

• guidelines for the EUCO

• items can also be add to the agenda by other actors MS / EC

  • the impact of eurosceptic is limites because they cannot block

advantages of the presidency for the country

—> visibility and prestige

• visibilité of the issues of the country

  • socialisations of elites and civil servants

disadvanteges

• 6 moths = short and can create fragmentation

• costly

OZTAS and KREPPEL

policy congruence and growing influence of the council and the parliament at the expense of the commission

HAGE

study reveal that the 6 moths presidency has some advantages on the policy outcomes for the domestic politics pf the country that holds the presidency

agenda setter

How are the priorities established?

Offer leadership & prioritise issues

organiser:

• the rotating presidency organises and chairs the meetings of the Council formations (with the exception of the Foreign Affairs Council, chaired by the High Representative).

• 30/40 ministerial meetings & 2500 COREPER & committee meetings

The presidency can push some policies or delay them

Neutral mediator, honest broker and political leader •

• Build a consensus inside the Council (negotiation, persuasion, mediating, bargaining…)

• broker acceptable compromises in relations with the Commission and the EP.

elements

1. administrative

   1. agenda setter

   2. organiser

   3. mediator

2. représentative

3. Success

4. advantages and disadvantages