Interaction between the European Council and the European Parliament: The European Parliament President at European Council meetings

Summary:

The European Parliament President's opening remarks at European Council meetings are one of the two most visible and frequent interactions between Parliament and the European Council. While the European Parliament President is not a member of the European Council and does not remain for the entirety of the meeting, his or her participation is significant nonetheless. Meetings of the European Council, which includes the 27 EU leaders and the presidents of the European Council and the European Commission, are the only regular occasion when the highest level representatives of the three main EU institutions come together on a cross party political basis. Through the intervention of its President, Parliament can communicate its views on critical topics early in the policy process and highlight topics important to the Parliament which are not on the European Council's agenda, thus reminding EU Heads of State or Government of their salience. Originally, the European Parliament President's intervention was an ad hoc and informal matter. Over time it became a regular feature and was eventually codified in the EU Treaties. Article 235(2) TFEU spells out that 'the President of the European Parliament may be invited to be heard by the European Council'. Each Parliament President has brought a personal approach to their interactions with the European Council, with some seeing their role as more ceremonial, and others as more political. On occasion, Presidents have stayed at meetings after delivering their speech, either for an entire working session or even a full meeting. Such exceptions were often related to debates on institutional issues. Today, the EU Heads of State or Government seem to appreciate the President of Parliament's participation, as indicated by the lively discussions that follow the President's intervention, with real exchanges of views taking place. Shorter interventions, as well as the Parliament President's investment in constructive bilateral relations with the members of the European Council can provide a partial explanation for this. Currently, the European Parliament President is not just a permanent guest at the European Council's meetings, but considered a peer (i.e. a leader in the EU's governance system) – revealing how relations between the European Council and the European Parliament have developed over the years.