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The European Council is the highest institution of the European Union.^[1] It comprises his President, who chairs the meetings, along with the heads of state or government of the Union's member states and with the President of the European Commission.

History

The first Councils were held in February and July 1961 (in Paris and Bonn respectively). They were informal summits of the leaders of the European Community and were started due to then-French President Charles de Gaulle's resentment at the domination of supranational institutions (e.g. the European Commission) over the integration process. The first influential summit was held in 1969 after a series of irregular summits. The Hague summit of 1969 reached an agreement on the admittance of the United Kingdom into the Community and initiated foreign policy cooperation (the European Political Cooperation) taking integration beyond economics.^[1]^[2]

The summits were only formalised in the period between 1974 and 1988. At the December summit in Paris in 1974, following a proposal from then-French President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, it was agreed that more intergovernmental, political input was needed following the "empty chair crisis" and economic problems. The inaugural Council, as it had become, was held in Dublin on 3 October and 3 November 1975 during Ireland's first Presidency of the Council of the European Union. In 1987, it was included in the treaties for the first time (the Single European Act) and had a defined role for the first time in the Maastricht Treaty. At first only two meetings per year were required, now there are on average four European Councils each year (two per presidency). The seat of the Council was formalised in 2002, basing it in Brussels. In addition to usual councils, there are the occasional extraordinary councils,^{[clarification needed]} as for example in 2001 when the European Council gathered to lead the EUs response to those events.^[1]^[2]^{[clarification needed]}

The meetings of the Council are seen by some as turning points in the history of the European Union. For example:^[1]

1969, The Hague: Foreign policy and enlargement.
1974, Paris: Creation of the Council.
1985, Milan: Initiate IGC leading to the Single European Act.
1991, Maastricht: Agreement on the Maastricht Treaty.
1993, Copenhagen: Leading to the definition of the Copenhagen Criteria.
1997, Amsterdam: Agreement on the Amsterdam Treaty.
1998, Brussels: Selected member states to adopt the euro.
1999; Cologne: Declaration on military forces.^[3]
1999, Tampere: Institutional reform
2000, Lisbon: Lisbon Strategy
2002, Copenhagen: Agreement for May 2004 enlargement.
2007, Lisbon: Agreement on the Lisbon Treaty.

As such, the European Council had already existed before it gained the status as an institution of the European Union with the entering into force of the Treaty of Lisbon. Article 2 of this treaty officially introduces the term European Council as a substitute for the phrase "Council [of the European Union] meeting in the composition of the Heads of State or Government", which was previously used in the treaties to refer to this body.^[4]

Powers and functions

The European Council is not an official institution of the EU, although it is mentioned in the treaties (before the Lisbon Treaty) as a body which "shall provide the Union with the necessary impetus for its development". Essentially it defines the EU's policy agenda and has thus been considered to be the motor of European integration. It does this without any formal powers, only the influence it has being composed of national leaders.^[1]^[5] Beyond the need to provide "impetus", the Council has developed further roles; to "settle issues outstanding from discussions at a lower level", to lead in foreign policy - acting externally as a "collective Head of State", "formal ratification of important documents" and "involvement in the negotiation of the treaty changes".^[6]^[2]

Since the body is composed of national leaders, it brings together the executive power of the member states, having a great deal of influence outside the European Community: for example over foreign policy and police & justice. It also exercises the more executive powers of the Council of the European Union (the European Council could be described as a configuration of that body) such as the appointment of the President of the European Commission. Hence with powers over the supranational executive of the EU, in addition to its other powers, the European Council has been described by some as the Union's "supreme political authority".^[7]^[6]^[2]

However, the body has been criticised by some for a lack of leadership, in part stemming from the weak structure of the body, meeting only 4 times a year for 2 days with no staff and no legislative decisions made.^[8]

Composition

Officially the members of the Council consist of the heads of state or government of the Union, plus the Commission President (non-voting). When meetings take place, the national foreign minister usually attends with the leaders. The Commission President likewise is also accompanied by another member of the Commission. These are the members seen in the "family photo" taken at each Council.^[1]^[5]^[6]

Meetings can also include national ministers, including foreign ministers, other leading national positions (French Prime Minister), Commissioners as required. The Secretary General of the Council (and his/her deputy) is also a regular attendee. The position has become highly important due to its regular role in organising the meetings while also acting as the Union's High Representative. The President of the European Parliament usually attends to give an opening speech outlining the European Parliament's position before talks begin.^[1]^[5]^[6]

However the negotiations usually involve a large number of other people working behind the scenes. Most of those people however are not allowed into the conference room, except for two delegates per state to relay messages. At the push of a button members can also call for advice from a Permanent Representative via the "Antici Group" in an adjacent room. The group is composed of diplomats and assistants who convey information and requests. Interpretors are also required for meetings as members are permitted to speak in their own languages.^[1]

As the composition is not precisely defined, some states which have a considerable division of executive power can find it difficult to decide who should attend the meetings. While an MEP, Alexander Stubb argued that there was no need for the President of Finland to attend Council meetings with or instead of the Prime Minister of Finland (who was head of European foreign policy).^[9] In 2008, having become Finnish Foreign Minister, Stubb was forced out of the Finnish delegation to the emergency council meeting on the Georgian crisis because the President wanted to attend the high profile summit as well as the Prime Minister (only two people from each country can attend the meetings). This was despite Stubb being head of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe at the time which was heavily involved in the crisis. Problems also occurred in Poland where the President of Poland and the Prime Minister of Poland were of different parties and had a different foreign policy response to the crisis.^[10]

Council members

Member State	Representative	Title	Political party	Member since	Photo
European Council^[11]	Herman Van Rompuy	SMS 1President	EPP National: CD&V	1 December 2009
Austria	Werner Faymann	SMS 1 Chancellor	PES National: SPÖ	2 December 2008
Belgium	Yves Leterme	SMS 1 Prime Minister	EPP National: CD&V	25 November 2009	File:Yves Leterme campagne foto.jpg
Bulgaria	Boyko Borisov	SMS 1 Prime Minister	EPP National: GERB	27 July 2009
Cyprus	Dimitris Christofias	SMS 0 President	PEL National: ΑΚΕΛ^[12]	28 February 2008
Czech Republic	Jan Fischer	SMS 1 Prime Minister	Independent	8 May 2009	File:Jan Fischer premier.jpg
Denmark	Lars Løkke Rasmussen	SMS 1 Prime Minister	ELDR National: Venstre	5 April 2009
Estonia	Andrus Ansip	SMS 1 Prime Minister	ELDR National: Reformierakond	12 April 2005
Finland	Matti Vanhanen	SMS 1 Prime Minister	ELDR National: Keskusta	24 June 2003	File:Matti Vanhanen(2008).JPG
France	Nicolas Sarkozy	SMS 0 President	EPP National: UMP	16 May 2007
Germany	Angela Merkel	SMS 1 Chancellor	EPP National: CDU	22 November 2005
Greece	George Papandreou	SMS 1 Prime Minister	PES National: PASOK	6 October 2009
Hungary	Gordon Bajnai	SMS 1 Prime Minister	Independent	14 April 2009
Ireland	Brian Cowen	SMS 1 Taoiseach	ELDR National: FF	7 May 2008
Italy	Silvio Berlusconi	SMS 1 Prime Minister	EPP National: PdL	8 May 2008
Latvia	Valdis Dombrovskis	SMS 1 Prime Minister	EPP National: JL	12 March 2009
Lithuania	Andrius Kubilius	SMS 1 Prime Minister	EPP National: TS–LKD	9 December 2008
Luxembourg	Jean-Claude Juncker	SMS 1 Prime Minister	EPP National: CSV	20 January 1995
Malta	Lawrence Gonzi	SMS 1 Prime Minister	EPP National: PN	1 May 2004
Netherlands	Jan Peter Balkenende	SMS 1 Prime Minister	EPP National: CDA	22 July 2002
Poland	Donald Tusk	SMS 1 Prime Minister	EPP National: PO	16 November 2007
Portugal	José Sócrates	SMS 1 Prime Minister	PES National: PS	12 March 2005
Romania	Emil Boc	SMS 1 Prime Minister	EPP National: PD-L	22 December 2008
Slovakia	Robert Fico	SMS 1 Prime Minister	PES National: Smer	4 July 2006
Slovenia	Borut Pahor	SMS 1 Prime Minister	PES National: SD	21 November 2008
Spain	José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero	SMS 1 President of the Government	PES National: PSOE	17 April 2004	File:José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero (para tabla).png
Sweden ( Presidency of the Council of the European Union)	Fredrik Reinfeldt	SMS 1 Prime Minister	EPP National: Moderaterna	6 October 2006
United Kingdom	Gordon Brown	SMS 1 Prime Minister	PES National: Labour	27 June 2007
Commission^[13]	José Manuel Barroso	SMS 1 President	EPP National: PSD	23 November 2004

Source for positions

Political parties

Almost all members of the Council are members of a political party at national level, and most of these are members of a European-level political party. However the Council is composed in order to represent the Union's states rather than political parties, and decisions are generally made on these lines. The table below outlines the European party affiliations of the European Council members for each country.

Template:European Council standings

Seat and meetings

Meetings of the council usually take place four times a year (two per Presidency) in Brussels and last for two days, although this can sometimes be longer if contentious issues are on the agenda.^[1] Up until 2002, the venue of the council meeting rotated between member states, as its location was decided by the country holding the rotating presidency. However, the 22nd declaration attached to the Treaty of Nice stated that; "As from 2002, one European Council meeting per Presidency will be held in Brussels. When the Union comprises 18 members, all European Council meetings will be held in Brussels."^[14]

So between 2002 and 2004 half the councils were held in Brussels, and from the 2004 enlargement, all were. The European Council uses the same building as the Council of the European Union (the Justus Lipsius building). However some extraordinary councils still take place outside of the city in the member holding the Presidency; (Rome, 2003 or Hampton Court Palace in 2005). The European Council is due to move with the Council of the European Union to a new building, Résidence Palace, next to the existing building.^[2]^[15]

The choice of a single seat was due to a number of factors, such as the experience of the Belgian police in dealing with protesters (a protester in Gothenburg was shot by police) as well as Brussels having fixed facilities for the Council and journalists at every meeting. By having a permanent seat (that's the same as the Council), particularly since enlargement, it was expected the Council would integrate further into the Community framework, rather than continuing under heavy national influence, developing as a governmental body (some have argued it is already the de facto EU government).^[2]

In 2007 the new situation became a source of contention with the European Council wanting to sign the Lisbon Treaty in Lisbon. However the Belgian government, keen not to set a precedent, insisted that the actual meeting take place in Brussels as usual. This would mean that after the signing, photo suit and formal dinner the entire summit would transfer from Lisbon to Brussels to continue with normal business. The idea of such an eventuality, mirrored with the "travelling circus" of the European Parliament, garnered protests from environmental groups describing the hypocrisy of demanding lower carbon emissions while flying across Europe for the same summit for political reasons.^[16]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ van Grinsven, Peter (2003). "The European Council under Construction" (PDF). Netherlands Institution for international Relations. Retrieved 2007-08-16. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Stark, Christine. "Evolution of the European Council: The implications of a permanent seat" (PDF). Dragoman.org. Retrieved 2007-07-12. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
^ "EU Security Policy & the role of the European Commissio". European Commission. Retrieved 2007-08-22. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
^ Wikisource: Article 2, Treaty of Lisbon
^ ^a ^b ^c Cite error: The named reference Maastricht was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Cite error: The named reference Europa Council was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Cite error: The named reference How work was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Laming, Richard (2003-07-10). "Too much champagne, not enough leadership". Open Democracy. Retrieved 2007-07-12. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
^ "Finnish Conservatives name Stubb foreign minister". new Room Finland. 2008-04-01. Retrieved 2008-04-01.
^ Phillips, Leigh (2008-08-29). "Spats over who gets to go to EU summit break out in Poland, Finland". EU Observer. Retrieved 2008-09-01.
^ Herman Van Rompuy sits in the European Council as the President of the European Council.
^ Party holds only observer status with the Party of the European Left
^ José Manuel Barroso does not represent a member state, but sits in the European Council as the President of the Commission and does not vote.
^ "Treaty of Nice" (PDF). Europa (web portal). 2001-02-21. Retrieved 2007-07-12. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
^ "Reconstruction of "Residence Palacel". UIA Architectes. 2005-09-26. Retrieved 2007-07-12. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
^ ley Berry, Peter Sain (2007-11-01). "Comment: Travelling circuses are not worth the carbon". EU Observer. Retrieved 2007-11-01. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)

External links

[nbiz-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ van Grinsven, Peter (2003). "The European Council under Construction" (PDF). Netherlands Institution for international Relations. Retrieved 2007-08-16. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)

[Dragoman-2] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Stark, Christine. "Evolution of the European Council: The implications of a permanent seat" (PDF). Dragoman.org. Retrieved 2007-07-12. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)

[Cologne_ESDP-3] "EU Security Policy & the role of the European Commissio". European Commission. Retrieved 2007-08-22. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)

[4] Wikisource: Article 2, Treaty of Lisbon

[Maastricht-5] Cite error: The named reference Maastricht was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[Europa_Council-6] Cite error: The named reference Europa Council was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[How_work-7] Cite error: The named reference How work was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[8] Laming, Richard (2003-07-10). "Too much champagne, not enough leadership". Open Democracy. Retrieved 2007-07-12. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)

[NRF-9] "Finnish Conservatives name Stubb foreign minister". new Room Finland. 2008-04-01. Retrieved 2008-04-01.

[10] Phillips, Leigh (2008-08-29). "Spats over who gets to go to EU summit break out in Poland, Finland". EU Observer. Retrieved 2008-09-01.

[11] Herman Van Rompuy sits in the European Council as the President of the European Council.

[12] Party holds only observer status with the Party of the European Left

[13] José Manuel Barroso does not represent a member state, but sits in the European Council as the President of the Commission and does not vote.

[Nice-14] "Treaty of Nice" (PDF). Europa (web portal). 2001-02-21. Retrieved 2007-07-12. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)

[15] "Reconstruction of "Residence Palacel". UIA Architectes. 2005-09-26. Retrieved 2007-07-12. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)

[16] y Berry, Peter Sain (2007-11-01). "Comment: Travelling circuses are not worth the carbon". EU Observer. Retrieved 2007-11-01. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)

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@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 {{About|the council of heads of state and government|the meetings between ministers of specific departments|Council of the European Union|the international organisation of 47 European countries|Council of Europe}}
 {{Politics of the European Union}}
-The '''European Council''' is the highest institution of the [[European Union]].<ref name="nbiz">{{cite web|last=van Grinsven|first=Peter|authorlink=|coauthors=|title=The European Council under Construction|work=|publisher=Netherlands Institution for international Relations|month=September | year=2003|url=http://www.nbiz.nl/publications/2003/20030900_cli_paper_dip_issue88.pdf|format=PDF|doi=|accessdate=2007-08-16}}</ref> It comprises the [[head of state|heads of state]] [[head of government|or government]] of the Union's [[European Union member state|member states]] along with the [[President of the European Commission]]. Its meetings are chaired by a member of the member state currently holding the [[Presidency of the Council of the European Union]].<ref name="How work">{{cite web|last=|first=|authorlink=|coauthors=|title=How does the EU work|work=|publisher=[[Europa (web portal)]]|date=|url=http://europa.eu/abc/12lessons/lesson_4/index_en.htm|format=|doi=|accessdate=2007-07-12}}</ref> This system of a rotating presidency adopted from Council of the European Union expires when [[Herman van Rompuy]] takes his designated position as the [[President of the European Council]],<ref>{{cite web | last = Charlemagne | title = What the EU's new leaders tell us about Europe | publisher = [[The Economist]] | date = 19 November 2009 | url = http://www.economist.com/blogs/charlemagne/eu_top_jobs/ | accessdate = 19 November 2009}}</ref> a mandate that lasts for two-and-a-half years.
+The '''European Council''' is the highest institution of the [[European Union]].<ref name="nbiz">{{cite web|last=van Grinsven|first=Peter|authorlink=|coauthors=|title=The European Council under Construction|work=|publisher=Netherlands Institution for international Relations|month=September | year=2003|url=http://www.nbiz.nl/publications/2003/20030900_cli_paper_dip_issue88.pdf|format=PDF|doi=|accessdate=2007-08-16}}</ref> It comprises his [[President of the European Council|President]], who chairs the meetings, along with the [[head of state|heads of state]] [[head of government|or government]] of the Union's [[European Union member state|member states]] and with the [[President of the European Commission]].
-While the European Council has no formal [[Executive (government)|executive]] or [[legislative]] powers, it is an institution that deals with major issues and any decisions made are "a major impetus in defining the general political guidelines of the European Union". The Council meets at least twice a year; usually in the [[Justus Lipsius building]], the head quarters of the [[Council of the European Union]]  of [[Brussels]].<ref>{{cite web|last=|first=|authorlink=|coauthors=|title=European Council|work=|publisher=[[Europa (web portal)|Council of the European Union]]|date=|url=http://www.consilium.europa.eu/showPage.asp?id=429&lang=en&mode=g|format=|doi=|accessdate=2007-07-12}}</ref><ref name="Maastricht">{{cite web|last=|first=|authorlink=|coauthors=|title=Consolidated versions of the treaty on European Union and of the treaty establishing the European Community|work=|publisher=[[Europa (web portal)]]|date=1992-02-07|url=http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/site/en/oj/2006/ce321/ce32120061229en00010331.pdf|format=PDF|doi=|accessdate=2007-07-12}}</ref><ref name="Europa Council">{{cite web|last=|first=|authorlink=|coauthors=|title=European Council|work=|publisher=[[Europa (web portal)]]|date=|url=http://europa.eu/european_council/index_en.htm|format=|doi=|accessdate=2007-07-12}}</ref>
 ==History==
@@ Line 44: / Line 42: @@
 As the composition is not precisely defined, some states which have a considerable division of executive power can find it difficult to decide who should attend the meetings. While an MEP, [[Alexander Stubb]] argued that there was no need for the [[President of Finland]] to attend Council meetings with or instead of the [[Prime Minister of Finland]] (who was head of European foreign policy).<ref name="NRF">{{cite web|title =Finnish Conservatives name Stubb foreign minister|publisher=new Room Finland|url=http://newsroom.finland.fi/stt/showarticle.asp?intNWSAID=18391&group=Politics|date=2008-04-01|accessdate = 2008-04-01}}</ref> In 2008, having become [[Minister for Foreign Affairs (Finland)|Finnish Foreign Minister]], Stubb was forced out of the Finnish delegation to the emergency council meeting on the [[War in South Ossetia|Georgian crisis]] because the President wanted to attend the high profile summit as well as the Prime Minister (only two people from each country can attend the meetings). This was despite Stubb being head of the [[Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe|Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe]] at the time which was heavily involved in the crisis. Problems also occurred in Poland where the [[President of Poland]] and the [[Prime Minister of Poland]] were of different parties and had a different foreign policy response to the crisis.<ref>{{cite web|last=Phillips|first=Leigh|title=Spats over who gets to go to EU summit break out in Poland, Finland|publisher=EU Observer|url=http://euobserver.com/9/26658|date=2008-08-29|accessdate = 2008-09-01}}</ref>
-===President-in-Office===
-{{Main|President of the European Council}}
-{{See also|Presidency of the Council of the European Union}}
-<!--  Commented out: [[Image:Jansa2.jpg|thumb|right|175px|The current President-in-Office is [[Janez Janša]] of Slovenia]] -->
-The role of [[President-in-Office]] of the assembled European Council is performed by the head of government or head of state of the member state currently holding the Council Presidency. This [[Presidency of the Council of the European Union|presidency rotates every six months]], with every three presidencies co-operating on a common programme in triplets, meaning there is also a new president of the European Council every six months. The agenda of the meetings are defined by the Presidency, hence it may be misused by the country holding the Presidency by pushing their national interests up the agenda. The presiding country may also have additional negotiators at the table.<ref name="nbiz"/><ref name="How work"/><ref name="Europa Council"/>
-The role as President-in-Office is in no sense equivalent to an office of a [[head of state]], merely a ''primus inter pares'' (first among equals) role with other European heads of government. The President-in-Office is primarily responsible for preparing and chairing Council meetings, and has no executive powers. It does however offer external representation of the council and the Union and reports to the [[European Parliament]] after Council meetings and at the beginning and end of the Presidency.<ref name="How work"/><ref name="Europa Council"/>
 ===Council members===
@@ Line 63: / Line 52: @@
 !align=left|Member since
 !class="unsortable" width=50px|Photo
+|----- bgcolor=#DDEEFF
+|{{flagicon|European Union}} ''[[European Council]]''<ref>Herman Van Rompuy sits in the European Council as the [[President of the European Council]].</ref>
+|''{{sortname|Herman|Van Rompuy}}''
+|{{sms|1}}''[[President of the European Council|President]]''
+|''[[European People's Party|EPP]]<br /><small>''National: [[Christian Democratic and Flemish|CD&V]]''</small>
+|''{{dts|format=dmy|2009|12|1}}''
+|[[File:Herman Van Rompuy portrait.jpg|50x66px]]
 |----- bgcolor=#FFE8E8
 |{{flag|Austria}}
@@ Line 74: / Line 70: @@
 |{{sortname|Yves|Leterme}}
 |{{sms|1}}[[Prime Minister of Belgium|Prime Minister]]
-|[[European People's Party|EPP]]<br /><small>''National: [[Christian Democratic and Flemish|CD&V]]''</small>
+|European People's Party|EPP<br /><small>''National: CD&V''</small>
 |{{dts|format=dmy|2009|11|25}}
 |[[File:Yves Leterme campagne foto.jpg|50x65px]]
@@ Line 239: / Line 235: @@
 |[[File:José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero (para tabla).png|50x65px]]
 |----- bgcolor=#DDEEFF
-|'''{{flag|Sweden}}<br>({{flagicon|European Union}} [[President of the European Council|Presidency]])'''<ref>[[Sweden]] currently holds the [[Presidency of the Council of the European Union]]; Fredrik Reinfeldt, as Prime Minister of that member state, is the [[President of the European Council|President-in-Office]].</ref>
+|'''{{flag|Sweden}}<br>({{flagicon|European Union}} [[Presidency of the Council of the European Union]])
 |'''{{sortname|Fredrik|Reinfeldt}}'''
 |'''{{sms|1}}[[Prime Minister of Sweden|Prime Minister]]'''
@@ Line 280: / Line 276: @@
 In 2007 the new situation became a source of contention with the European Council wanting to sign the [[Lisbon Treaty]] in [[Lisbon]]. However the Belgian government, keen not to set a precedent, insisted that the actual meeting take place in Brussels as usual. This would mean that after the signing, photo suit and formal dinner the entire summit would transfer from Lisbon to Brussels to continue with normal business. The idea of such an eventuality, mirrored with the "travelling circus" of the European Parliament, garnered protests from environmental groups describing the hypocrisy of demanding lower carbon emissions while flying across Europe for the same summit for political reasons.<ref>{{cite web|last= ley Berry|first=Peter Sain|authorlink=Peter Sain ley Berry|coauthors=|title=Comment: Travelling circuses are not worth the carbon|work=|publisher=EU Observer|date=2007-11-01|url=http://euobserver.com/9/25073|format=|doi=|accessdate=2007-11-01}}</ref>
-==Future of the European Council==
-[[Image:Herman Van Rompuy portrait.jpg|thumb|Former Belgium [[Prime Minister of Belgium|Prime Minister]] [[Herman van Rompuy]] is designated to be the first permanent [[President of the European Council]].]]
-There would be a number of changes to the European Council under the proposed [[Treaty of Lisbon]].<ref>{{cite web|last=European Council|first=|authorlink=|coauthors=|title=Brussels European Council 21/22 June 2007: Presidency Conclusions|work=|publisher=[[Europa (web portal)]]|date=2007-06-22|url=http://www.consilium.europa.eu/ueDocs/cms_Data/docs/pressData/en/ec/94932.pdf|format=PDF|doi=|accessdate=2007-07-12}}</ref>
-The treaty would make the European Council a formal institution, separate from the Council of the European Union (now the Council of Ministers). While the Council of Ministers would continue with the rotating presidency, the European Council would have a single, fixed, [[President of the European Council]] with a renewable two-and-a-half year mandate. The position would stay a non-executive, administrative role. It would have an important role in organising work and meetings, providing external representation (including working with the [[Common Foreign and Security Policy|CFSP]]) and being able to call extraordinary meetings beyond the four that are now formally required to take place.<ref name="Constitution info">{{cite web|last=|first=|authorlink=|coauthors=|title=The Union's institutions: The European Council|work=|publisher=[[Europa (web portal)]]|date=2001-02-21|url=http://europa.eu/scadplus/constitution/europeancouncil_en.htm|format=|doi=|accessdate=2007-07-12}}</ref>
-The role of the council is clearly separate from the Council, and primarily follows previous definitions. In separating from the Council of Ministers, the European Council gains no legislative power. It does however gain a greater say over police and justice planning, foreign policy and constitutional matters, including: the composition of the Parliament and Commission; matters relating to the rotating presidency; the suspension of membership rights; changing the voting systems in the treaties bridging clauses; and nominating the President of the European Commission and the [[High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy|High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy]]. The High Representative, along with the new post of President, are the only formal changes in composition. Further more, under the "emergency break" procedure, a state may refer contenious legislation from the Council of Ministers to the European Council if it is outvoted in the Council, although it may still be outvoted in the European Council.<ref name="Constitution info"/><ref>{{cite web|last=Peers|first=Steve|authorlink=|coauthors=|title=EU Reform Treaty Analysis no. 2.2: Foreign policy provisions of the revised text of the Treaty on the European Union (TEU) |work=|publisher=[[Statewatch]]|date=2007-08-02|url=http://www.statewatch.org/news/2007/aug/eu-reform%20treaty-csfp1-2-2.pdf|format=PDF|doi=|accessdate=2007-09-26}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Peers|first=Steve|authorlink=|coauthors=|title=EU Reform Treaty analysis 1: JHA provisions|work=|publisher=[[Statewatch]]|date=2007-08-02|url=http://www.statewatch.org/news/2007/aug/eu-reform-treaty-jha-analysis-1.pdf|format=PDF|doi=|accessdate=2007-09-26}}</ref>
-Although there may be some informal changes; currently the [[President of Finland]] informally takes part in the European Council as s/he is responsible for the Finland's foreign policy outside the EU. This is alongside the [[Prime Minister of Finland|Prime Minister]] who deals with policy within the EU. Under the new treaty the Council becomes a formal EU institution and deals with foreign policy (making it EU policy). Hence, some see the President's attendance would no longer be justified.<ref name="HS FIN PRES">{{cite web|last=|first=|authorlink=|coauthors=|title=Experts calling for new decisions on role of President in EU policy|work=|publisher=[[Helsingin Sanomat]]|date=2007-08-22|url=http://www.hs.fi/english/article/Experts+calling+for+new+decisions+on+role+of+President+in+EU+policy/1135229708906|format=|doi=|accessdate=2007-08-28}}</ref>
-There had been speculation on who would be the first (full time) President of the European Council. Until recently the most common name was former [[British Prime Minister]], [[Tony Blair]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Hall|first=Ben|authorlink=|coauthors=|title=New post of EU chief tempts Blair|work=|publisher=[[Financial Times]]|date=2007-05-03|url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/4b7e16a2-f9a6-11db-9b6b-000b5df10621.html|format=|doi=|accessdate=2007-07-12}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Parker|first=George|authorlink=|coauthors=|title=Blair’s fate may be linked to EU|work=|publisher=[[Financial Times]]|date=2007-05-10|url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/b809ae42-ff16-11db-aff2-000b5df10621,dwp_uuid=5f5b5ef8-b209-11db-a79f-0000779e2340.html|format=|doi=|accessdate=2007-07-12}}</ref> This was backed up further when, in June 2007, French president [[Nicolas Sarkozy]] was the first leader to propose that Blair be the first president.<ref>{{cite web|last=Parker|first=George|authorlink=|coauthors=|title=Push for Blair as new EU president|work=|publisher=[[Financial Times]]|date=2007-06-16|url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/d4fe43ac-1ba7-11dc-bc55-000b5df10621.html|format=|doi=|accessdate=2007-07-12}}</ref> On 15 July 2009, BBC News reported that the UK Minister for Europe Baroness Kinnock had confirmed that Blair would be a candidate for the role and would have British government support.
-However in August 2007, there was speculation that [[Bertie Ahern]], the former [[Republic of Ireland|Irish]] [[Taoiseach]], could also be a contender.<ref>{{cite web|last=Mahony|first=Honor|authorlink=|coauthors=|title=Ireland speculates on Ahern becoming EU president|work=|publisher=EU Observer|date=2007-08-27|url=http://euobserver.com/9/24634|format=|doi=|accessdate=2007-07-12}}</ref> The Bulgarian government had floated the name of former [[Prime Minister of Bulgaria|Prime Minister]] [[Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha]].<ref>[http://www.psz.pl/content/view/9830 psz.pl - UE/ Bułgar unijnym prezydentem?<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> In September 2009, the name of Dutch Prime Minister, [[Jan Peter Balkenende]], was reported in the Dutch press<ref>{{cite web|title=CDA speculeert over opvolging Balkenende|work=|publisher=[[Het Financieele Dagblad]]|date=2009-09-17|url=http://www.fd.nl/artikel/13064418/cda-speculeert-opvolging-balkenende|format=|doi=|accessdate=2009-09-18}}</ref> as a possible contender for the new post. Balkende has firmly denied that he was a contender, dismissing the claim as "claptrap".<ref>{{cite web|title=Balkenende naar Europa? 'Flauwekul'|work=|publisher=[[Algemeen Dagblad]]|date=2009-09-17|url=http://www.ad.nl/ad/nl/1012/Binnenland/article/detail/430865/2009/09/17/Balkenende-naar-Europa-Flauwekul.dhtml|format=|doi=|accessdate=2009-09-18}}</ref> The speculation ended on 19 November 2009, when the council appointed [[Prime Minister of Belgium|Prime Minister]] [[Herman van Rompuy]] of [[Belgium]] as the first (full time) President of the European Council.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8367589.stm|title=Belgian PM Van Rompuy is named as new EU president|agency=BBC|date=19 November 2009}}</ref>
 ==References==

v t e European Council
List of meetings Parties represented 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 (January–April) 2004 (May–December) 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 (January–June) 2013 (July–December) 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Charles Michel, President (non-voting) Nehammer (AT) De Croo (BE) Glavchev (BG) Plenković (HR) Christodoulides (CY) Fiala (CZ) Frederiksen (DK) Michal (EE) Orpo (FI) Macron (FR) Scholz (DE) Mitsotakis (GR) Orbán (HU) Harris (IE) Meloni (IT) Siliņa (LV) Nausėda (LT) Frieden (LU) Abela (MT) Schoof (NL) Tusk (PL) Montenegro (PT) Iohannis (RO) Fico (SK) Golob (SI) Sánchez (ES) Kristersson (SE) von der Leyen, President of the Commission (non-voting) Borrell (High Representative) (present non-member, non-voting) Metsola (President of the Parliament) (partially attending, non-member, non-voting)
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