European Council

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European Council
Filip Kwiatkowski
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What is the difference?

• Council of the European Union
• Council of Europe
• European Council

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What is the difference?

• Council of the European Union
• Council of Europe
• European Council

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What is the difference?

• Council of the European Union
• Council of Europe
• European Council

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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

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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)

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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

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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

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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

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Current cases
2. Adoption of timeframe and principles for the
energy and climate change package

• Economic efficiency and cost-effectiveness 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

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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

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Future
Under the treaty of Lisbon

• Formal institution
• Independent from Council of the European Union
• Single, fixed President

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Thank you for your attention.