The European Council

by Wolfgang Wessels

Overview

This systematic assessment of the -often opaque- European Council looks at its characteristics, leaders and output as well as its impact on EU supranational and intergovernmental dynamics. Taking account of historical and contemporary developments up to and beyond the Lisbon Treaty, it encourages in-depth understanding of this key institution.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780333587478
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	09/30/2015
Series:	The European Union Series , #92
Edition description:	1st ed. 2015
Pages:	312
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Wolfgang Wessels is Jean Monnet Professor of Political Science, University of Cologne, Germany. He is also chairman of the executive board of the Trans European Political Studies Association (TEPSA), Belgium, and of the Institute for European Politics (IEP), Germany. Wolfgang has published widely in leading journals and edited volumes and is presently the coordinator of several academic networks: 'PADEMIA - Erasmus Academic Network on Parliamentary Democracy in Europe', 'EXACT - Marie Curie Initial Training Network', 'THESEUS' and 'Observatory of Parliaments after the Lisbon Treaty'.
Wolfgang Wessels is Jean Monnet Professor of Political Science, University of Cologne, Germany. He is also chairman of the executive board of the Trans European Political Studies Association (TEPSA), Belgium, and of the Institute for European Politics (IEP), Germany. Wolfgang has published widely in leading journals and edited volumes and is presently the coordinator of several academic networks: 'PADEMIA - Erasmus Academic Network on Parliamentary Democracy in Europe', 'EXACT - Marie Curie Initial Training Network', 'THESEUS' and 'Observatory of Parliaments after the Lisbon Treaty'.

Table of Contents

PART I: THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL: OVERVIEW AND HISTORY
1. Introduction: The Many Faces of the European Council
2. Multiple Approaches for Understanding a Contested Institution: Three Models
3. Pre-History: the Birth of Institutionalised Summitry
4. History: Generations of Leaders and the Institutional Trajectory
PART II: THE ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL WITHIN THE EU ARCHITECTURE
5. Political and Procedural Leadership: General Functions and Specific Powers
6. Towards a New Institutional Balance? Trends in Inter-Institutional Relations
PART III: INSIDE THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL: THE DYNAMICS OF DECISION MAKING
7. The Presidency: Charismatic Master or Facilitating Manager?
8. Rules for Organisation: the Search for an Optimal Institutional Arrangement
9. Decision-Making: The Ways to Consensus Formation
10. Decision-Making: The Power Dimension
PART IV: ACTIVITIES, AGREEMENTS AND ACTS
11. Deepening: The Constitutional Architect
12. Widening: The Master of Enlargement
13. Economic Governance: Towards a 'gouvernement économique'?
14. External Action: In Search of a Coherent and Effective Global Role
15. The Area of Freedom, Security and Justice: Pre-Constitutional and Pre-Legislative Functions
PART V: CONCLUSIONS AND PERSPECTIVES: A KEY INSTITUTION'S RISE AND DECLINE?
16. The European Council: Looking Back to Look Forward.