Comments on: The European Council, the Council of the European Union, the Council of Ministers and the Council of Europe: A guide http://www.jcm.org.uk/blog/2009/10/the-european-council-the-council-of-the-european-union-the-council-of-ministers-and-the-council-of-europe-a-guide/ In search of a European identity Sat, 07 Jan 2012 12:16:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: F. Spaak http://www.jcm.org.uk/blog/2009/10/the-european-council-the-council-of-the-european-union-the-council-of-ministers-and-the-council-of-europe-a-guide/comment-page-1/#comment-66605 F. Spaak Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:24:46 +0000 http://www.jcm.org.uk/blog/?p=2429#comment-66605 DOCM; You are absolutely right. My mistake and also my apologies to Alex. DOCM;

You are absolutely right. My mistake and also my apologies to Alex.

]]> By: DOCM http://www.jcm.org.uk/blog/2009/10/the-european-council-the-council-of-the-european-union-the-council-of-ministers-and-the-council-of-europe-a-guide/comment-page-1/#comment-66504 DOCM Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:13:07 +0000 http://www.jcm.org.uk/blog/?p=2429#comment-66504 @ F.Spaak. It is not true to say that the European Council does not presently have a president. Article 4 TEU reads: "The European Council shall meet at least twice a year, under the chairmanship of the Head of State or Government of the Member State which holds the Presidency of the Council". The simple fact is that the HOSG no longer wished to have their meetings guided by one of their number (and, after the experience of the Czech Presidency, who could blame them!). The biggest problem lay not with the personalities involved but with their staffs in capitals. Thye could be compared to people who fortuitously were given control of the steering wheel of Europe. Unfortunately, while experienced in domestic matters, they are incapable of driving abroad. The new arrangements should fix this as the coordination role will move to those best fitted to carry it out viz. the staff of the Council Secretariat. @ F.Spaak. It is not true to say that the European Council does not presently have a president. Article 4 TEU reads: “The European Council shall meet at least twice a year, under the chairmanship of the Head of State or Government of the Member State which holds the Presidency of the Council”.

The simple fact is that the HOSG no longer wished to have their meetings guided by one of their number (and, after the experience of the Czech Presidency, who could blame them!). The biggest problem lay not with the personalities involved but with their staffs in capitals. Thye could be compared to people who fortuitously were given control of the steering wheel of Europe. Unfortunately, while experienced in domestic matters, they are incapable of driving abroad.

The new arrangements should fix this as the coordination role will move to those best fitted to carry it out viz. the staff of the Council Secretariat.

]]> By: Pontificating on the Pontiff « Public Affairs 2.0 http://www.jcm.org.uk/blog/2009/10/the-european-council-the-council-of-the-european-union-the-council-of-ministers-and-the-council-of-europe-a-guide/comment-page-1/#comment-66079 Pontificating on the Pontiff « Public Affairs 2.0 Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:50:10 +0000 http://www.jcm.org.uk/blog/?p=2429#comment-66079 [...] Firstly, there is some pleasure to be had in counting the number of times some hack in London gets all mixed up over what the job is. Will he be President of Europe, President of the European Council, President of the Council or President of the Council of Europe? Who knows? Does the UK media care? As an aside, all this confusion could form the basis for some bizarre studentesque drinking game. Every time a UK daily gets it wrong some kind of alcoholic forfeit would be administered. In any case all those reporting on this (or wishing to avoid alcohol abuse through sheer frustration) would be well advised to check out this post from NoseMonkey. [...] [...] Firstly, there is some pleasure to be had in counting the number of times some hack in London gets all mixed up over what the job is. Will he be President of Europe, President of the European Council, President of the Council or President of the Council of Europe? Who knows? Does the UK media care? As an aside, all this confusion could form the basis for some bizarre studentesque drinking game. Every time a UK daily gets it wrong some kind of alcoholic forfeit would be administered. In any case all those reporting on this (or wishing to avoid alcohol abuse through sheer frustration) would be well advised to check out this post from NoseMonkey. [...]

]]> By: F.Spaak http://www.jcm.org.uk/blog/2009/10/the-european-council-the-council-of-the-european-union-the-council-of-ministers-and-the-council-of-europe-a-guide/comment-page-1/#comment-66078 F.Spaak Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:17:37 +0000 http://www.jcm.org.uk/blog/?p=2429#comment-66078 @Frisch: In the new treaty the European Council is obliged to convene two meetings a year. Other meetings can be held if deemed necessary. In 2008 the French presidency organized an extraordinary meeting to discuss matters in relation to the credit crunch. In 2001 a meeting was convened the day after 9/11 to discuss the consequences of the terrorist attacks for foreign policy (also in relation to NATO supportive obligations many member states have). Since 2003 all formal meetings are held in Brussels, due to high security costs. Member states can convene informal gatherings on their home soil. In 2005 PM Tony Blair e.g. organized an informal summit at Hampton court to make progress on the topics of institutional reform and the multi-annual financial framework. The meetings in June and December are always on the general topics, while a meeting is also normally held in march is to discuss economic and monetary topics mainly in relation to the Lisbon Agenda (not the treaty). @Alex; Formally Nosemonkey is right that the European Council can have a president for the first time in history. Since it is no official institution it lacks a formal president. But off course you are also right. The Head of state or government of the country where the presidency of the Council is residing also heads the meetings of the European Council. @Nosemonkey May be the position of the European Council can be easier understood when one adds some history to the matter. In the seventies the European Community (only 6 states) was confronted with deadlock and a turmoil environment. In 1969 it was therefore decided to relaunch the European Project. Therefore the European leaders meet one time a year to discuss general matters and to keep the European project on track. In 1974 Giscard d’Estaing (then French president) saw some new challenges for the enlarged community. The British were a new member and added their own agenda, while the Germans were relaxing their relations with the East (Ostpolitik). Furthermore the oilcrisis made clear that Europe was also dependent for their economic well-being on good relations with the Middle east. The community lacked any formal powers to tackle these internal and external matters. Amidst these complexities the European summits since 1975 became a beacon of external and internal guidance. @Frisch:
In the new treaty the European Council is obliged to convene two meetings a year. Other meetings can be held if deemed necessary. In 2008 the French presidency organized an extraordinary meeting to discuss matters in relation to the credit crunch. In 2001 a meeting was convened the day after 9/11 to discuss the consequences of the terrorist attacks for foreign policy (also in relation to NATO supportive obligations many member states have). Since 2003 all formal meetings are held in Brussels, due to high security costs. Member states can convene informal gatherings on their home soil. In 2005 PM Tony Blair e.g. organized an informal summit at Hampton court to make progress on the topics of institutional reform and the multi-annual financial framework.
The meetings in June and December are always on the general topics, while a meeting is also normally held in march is to discuss economic and monetary topics mainly in relation to the Lisbon Agenda (not the treaty).
@Alex;
Formally Nosemonkey is right that the European Council can have a president for the first time in history. Since it is no official institution it lacks a formal president. But off course you are also right. The Head of state or government of the country where the presidency of the Council is residing also heads the meetings of the European Council.
@Nosemonkey
May be the position of the European Council can be easier understood when one adds some history to the matter. In the seventies the European Community (only 6 states) was confronted with deadlock and a turmoil environment. In 1969 it was therefore decided to relaunch the European Project. Therefore the European leaders meet one time a year to discuss general matters and to keep the European project on track. In 1974 Giscard d’Estaing (then French president) saw some new challenges for the enlarged community. The British were a new member and added their own agenda, while the Germans were relaxing their relations with the East (Ostpolitik). Furthermore the oilcrisis made clear that Europe was also dependent for their economic well-being on good relations with the Middle east. The community lacked any formal powers to tackle these internal and external matters. Amidst these complexities the European summits since 1975 became a beacon of external and internal guidance.

]]> By: Stephen Spillane – The Presidency of the European Council http://www.jcm.org.uk/blog/2009/10/the-european-council-the-council-of-the-european-union-the-council-of-ministers-and-the-council-of-europe-a-guide/comment-page-1/#comment-66076 Stephen Spillane – The Presidency of the European Council Sun, 01 Nov 2009 16:20:35 +0000 http://www.jcm.org.uk/blog/?p=2429#comment-66076 [...] lately about the collapse of the Tony Blair candidacy for President of the European Council (see Nosemonkey’s recent post for an explanation of all those councils!). I personally am thankful for that, but Blair is still [...] [...] lately about the collapse of the Tony Blair candidacy for President of the European Council (see Nosemonkey’s recent post for an explanation of all those councils!). I personally am thankful for that, but Blair is still [...]

]]> By: Alex http://www.jcm.org.uk/blog/2009/10/the-european-council-the-council-of-the-european-union-the-council-of-ministers-and-the-council-of-europe-a-guide/comment-page-1/#comment-65895 Alex Fri, 30 Oct 2009 23:24:05 +0000 http://www.jcm.org.uk/blog/?p=2429#comment-65895 You got one of your links wrong. Under the European Council section, you link to "Presidency of the Council of the European Union" on Wikipedia, when actually you should be linking to "President of the European Council". Compare: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_the_European_Council http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presidency_of_the_Council_of_the_European_Union Also, this is false: "This is the body over which all the fuss is currently taking place, as under the Lisbon Treaty the European Council is to gain a President for the first time" It already HAS a President. At the moment it's Fredrik Reinfeldt. This position is doing the old rotation thing currently, similar to the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Finally, you say: "If you want comparisons to national governments, the Council is the closest the EU has to a Cabinet, as the power of executive formally lies with the Council of the European Union." But this isn't right surely, since it is the EU Commission that has the executive power. You got one of your links wrong. Under the European Council section, you link to “Presidency of the Council of the European Union” on Wikipedia, when actually you should be linking to “President of the European Council”.

Compare:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_the_European_Council
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presidency_of_the_Council_of_the_European_Union

Also, this is false:

“This is the body over which all the fuss is currently taking place, as under the Lisbon Treaty the European Council is to gain a President for the first time”

It already HAS a President. At the moment it’s Fredrik Reinfeldt. This position is doing the old rotation thing currently, similar to the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

Finally, you say:

“If you want comparisons to national governments, the Council is the closest the EU has to a Cabinet, as the power of executive formally lies with the Council of the European Union.”

But this isn’t right surely, since it is the EU Commission that has the executive power.

]]> By: Understanding all the different European ‘Councils’ « euenvironmentblog.eu http://www.jcm.org.uk/blog/2009/10/the-european-council-the-council-of-the-european-union-the-council-of-ministers-and-the-council-of-europe-a-guide/comment-page-1/#comment-65865 Understanding all the different European ‘Councils’ « euenvironmentblog.eu Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:54:16 +0000 http://www.jcm.org.uk/blog/?p=2429#comment-65865 [...] http://www.jcm.org.uk/blog/?p=2429 [...] [...] http://www.jcm.org.uk/blog/?p=2429 [...]

]]> By: kernow http://www.jcm.org.uk/blog/2009/10/the-european-council-the-council-of-the-european-union-the-council-of-ministers-and-the-council-of-europe-a-guide/comment-page-1/#comment-65857 kernow Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:15:56 +0000 http://www.jcm.org.uk/blog/?p=2429#comment-65857 Simples! Simples!

]]> By: french derek http://www.jcm.org.uk/blog/2009/10/the-european-council-the-council-of-the-european-union-the-council-of-ministers-and-the-council-of-europe-a-guide/comment-page-1/#comment-65852 french derek Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:30:28 +0000 http://www.jcm.org.uk/blog/?p=2429#comment-65852 NM Well done, thank you. One might hope that a printed copy of this would be pinned to the wall of every journalist. The reality, I fear, will be that they prefer their wilfull ignorance: which helps so many of them to mislead their readership (Sorry, a spill-over from a previous post). NM Well done, thank you. One might hope that a printed copy of this would be pinned to the wall of every journalist. The reality, I fear, will be that they prefer their wilfull ignorance: which helps so many of them to mislead their readership (Sorry, a spill-over from a previous post).

]]> By: nosemonkey http://www.jcm.org.uk/blog/2009/10/the-european-council-the-council-of-the-european-union-the-council-of-ministers-and-the-council-of-europe-a-guide/comment-page-1/#comment-65846 nosemonkey Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:35:34 +0000 http://www.jcm.org.uk/blog/?p=2429#comment-65846 You're right, of course - should have made all that clear. Now edited. I expected I would, I got myself confused along the way. It's one of those rules of the internet - try to explain how people get confused, you're bound to get confused yourself. Like the inevitable grammatical / spelling mistake in comments left by people correcting spelling / grammar... You’re right, of course – should have made all that clear. Now edited.

I expected I would, I got myself confused along the way. It’s one of those rules of the internet – try to explain how people get confused, you’re bound to get confused yourself. Like the inevitable grammatical / spelling mistake in comments left by people correcting spelling / grammar…

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