European Council Filip Kwiatkowski What is the difference

European Council Filip Kwiatkowski

What is the difference? • Council of the European Union • Council of Europe • European Council

What is the difference? • Council of the European Union • Council of Europe • European Council

What is the difference? • Council of the European Union • Council of Europe • European Council

Who and what is the European Council? • Heads of state of the member states and President of the European Commission • The highest political body of the European Union • Around four meetings a year for two days

Mission The European Council shall provide the Union with the necessary impetus for its development and shall define the general political guidelines thereof. (Article 4 of the Treaty on European Union)

Further roles • settle issues outstanding from discussions at a lower level • lead in foreign policy - acting externally as a ‘collective Head of State’ • formal ratification of important documents • involvement in the negotiation of the treaty changes

How to implement? Problem: • No formal legislative or executive power • Lack of strong internal leadership Solution: • Influence of national leaders • European Commision President • guidelines, resolutions, declarations

Current cases: 1. Economic report on the progress of the EU – Economic growth has reached 2, 9% in 2007, but is likely to be lower this year – public debt has declined to just under 60%. – economic outlook deteriorates recently as a result of a slowdown of economic activity in US, oil and commodity prices, and turbulence on the financial markets – increases in food and energy prices have contributed to inflationary pressures

Current cases: 2. Adoption of timeframe and principles for the energy and climate change package • Economic efficiency and costeffectiveness set within the framework of the Lisbon Strategy. • Fairness and solidarity in the distribution of efforts between Member States • Transparency: the debate on the package should be carried out transparently

Current cases: 3. Investing in knowledge and innovation 4. Unlocking the business potential, especially of SMEs 5. Investing in people and modernising labour markets 6. The stability of the financial markets 7. Statemant on Barcelona Process: ’Union for the Mediterranean’

Future: Under the treaty of Lisbon: • Formal institution • Independent from Council of the European Union • Single, fixed President

Thank you for your attention.