The EU Presidency: Principles, problems, and reform

Abstract

This article focuses on the Presidency of the Council of Ministers of the
European Union (EU). It aims to discern the different possibilities for
fulfilling the Presidency's functions after the adoption of the so-called
European constitution. The article is divided into two parts. The first part
examines the development of the Presidency up to the adoption of the Nice
Treaty, and then identifies the basic functions of the Council Presidency as
they developed over the last century. These are: external and internal
representation, negotiations, setting political priorities, and the promotion
of national interests. The main issues and proposals for reform are then
introduced. The second part of the article deals with the Presidency and the
so-called European constitution. The introduction of 'Team Presidency', as
well as the role of the President as presented by the constitution, erodes
the current form of the Presidency. Consequently, it disrupts and changes
the functions that have so far resided with the Presidency.