Rahul Dcunha

Ninad Shahane

• History

• Organizational Structure

• Treaty of Lisbon and its aftermath

• The Modern European Council

Introduction

Inception

In a memo dated August 1973, Jean

Monnet called on the heads of

government to create a ‘provisional

European government’

The European Council was proposed by

the then French president Valéry Giscard

d'Estaing with Monnet’s support at the

December summit in Paris in 1974

From Maastricht to Lisbon

The treaty of Maastricht recognized the European Council as an

informal body of the heads of governments of member states which

gave political direction and impetus to the EU.

Lisbonization legalized this basic function of the European Council and

also granted it the status of being one of the 7 EU institutions while

laying the groundwork for a detailed organizational structure.

Organizational Structure

President of the European Council

President of the

European Commission

Presidency of the Council

of the Union

General

Affairs

Council

European Council

High Representative

of the Union for

Foreign Affairs and

Security PolicyAgenda decisions

based on Qualified

Majority

President of the European

Council

• Permanent Presidency for

2.5 years

• Cannot hold national

positions of office

• Herman Van Rompuy

elected unanimously on 19th

November 2009

• Low profile ‘Consensus

Builder’

• Duties can overlap that of

High Representative and the

EC President.

Face off ??

• True representatives of the EU in global political affairs

• Power struggle between the European Council and the Commission

• Monday morning breakfasts notwithstanding

• Single candidature for the Commission and the European Council?

The traditional decision-making triangle (Commission, Council,

Parliament), that was the foundation of the Community method,

has become a quadrangle.

Future Prospects

Does this signify a potential step

backwards from the process of

supranational integration of the

EU?

Are the heads of the EU

member states trying to shift the

blame?

Que Sera Sera!

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2014

Today

Common Defense and security policy

12/12/2013

Euro Plus Pact4/16/2011

European Stability Mechanism 1/8/2011

Bailouts to Greece approved 7/1/2010

Euro 2020 6/1/2010

Internal Security Strategy 3/8/2010

Stockholm Programme 12/1/2009

Treaty of Lisbon comes into effect 12/1/2009

Irish referendum: Treaty of Lisbon accepted

6/28/2009

Eastern Partnership Agenda

3/20/2009

1/1/2010 1/1/2014Stockholm Program

Eastern Partnership

• Promoting Democracy

• Empowering People

• Financial Backing

• Bilateral Cooperation

• Supporting Mobility

• Increasing Trade

Irish Referendum

On June 12, 2008, Ireland voted against the Lisbon treaty with a 53.4%

majority, the popular reason being that many did not understand the treaty.

Irish Referendum The June 2009 summit of the European Council sought to clarify

the treaty of Lisbon with respect to a few ambiguous points:

• Right to life, family and education

• Taxation

• Security and defense

• Worker’s Rights and Social Policy

In October 2009, the treaty is put to a second vote….

Stockholm Program

The Stockholm Program sets out the European Union’s

(EU) priorities for the area of justice, freedom and

security for the period 2010-14.

• Europe of rights

• Europe of justice

• Europe that protects

• Europe of solidarity

• Europe in a

globalized world

• Access to Europe

Stockholm Program

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/libertycentral/2009/

may/28/eu-view-surveillance-society

• "principle of convergence“• "principle of availability"• “By 2014,Euro-Atlantic area

of cooperation with the USA in the field of freedom, security and justice"

Euro 2020

Agenda of the Pact

Role of European Council

• Annual overall assessments of progress

• Horizontal policy guidance for the EU as a whole

on the basis of the Annual Growth Survey

presented by the Commission

• Discussion of economic developments and

priorities for the strategy

Internal Security Strategy

EU’s objectives is to ensure a high level of security

within the common area of freedom, security and

justice through preventing and combating crime

• EU-LISA

• European Public Prosecutor’s Office

• Internal Security Fund

Organizations Proposed

Internal Security Strategy

European Stability Mechanism

European Stability Mechanism

Euro Plus Pact

Eurozone Participants

Non-Euro Participants

To strengthen the

economic pillar of the

monetary union

This Pact focuses

primarily on areas that

fall under national

competence and are key

for increasing

competitiveness and

avoiding harmful

imbalances.

Euro Plus Pact

• Foster

competitiveness

• Foster employment

• Contribute further

to the sustainability

of public finances

• Reinforce financial

stability

The Common Security and Defense Policy

Increasing the effectiveness, visibility and

impact of CSDP

Strengthening Europe's defence

industry

Enhancing the development of

capabilities

The Common Security and Defense Policy

WAY FORWARD

• Timeline is set till 2015 to apply the

recommendations

• EU Cyber Defence Policy Framework by 2014

• EU Maritime Security Strategy by June 2014

EuroSceptics!

Crimean Crisis

• EU believes that sovereignty of the Ukrainian

constitution has been compromised

Sanctions Against

Russia

Aid to Ukraine

Suspend bilateral talks

with the Russian

Federation on visa

matters

Ready to assist also on

energy security.

Talks with the Russian

Federation on the New

Agreement.

Association Agreement,

including a Deep and

Comprehensive Free

Trade Area.

Travel bans and asset

freezes

Commit to provide

Ukraine with strong

financial backing.

Crimean Crisis

The European Union expresses its objective to further

strengthen the political association and

economic integration with Georgia and the Republic of

Moldova.

DEBATE: Given the CSDP and the

Eastern Partnership which promotes an

alliance with the former east bloc what is

the best way for Europe to safeguard peace

in these states?