The Presidency in the EU of 25

Abstract: Working methods in the Council of the EU are under pressure to change in the context of enlargement. New guidelines concerning the preparation and conduct of meetings have been annexed to the Council Rules of Procedure. The next few Presidencies will be important in determining how these new methods will evolve in practice. This article discusses ongoing developments concerning the way that Council business is managed, incorporating insights gained in the framework of the large-scale programme organised together with the Clingendael Institute in the framework of the Dutch Presidency preparations in the first half of 2004.