The European Council turns 50
Studying and analyzing a key institution of the European Union
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 12869730 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Lucas Schramm (0000-0002-3836-0496, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 25 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | 79-90 |
| Publication date | 2026-01-19 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | European Political Science (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1680-4333 • E-ISSN: 1682-0983 |
| Publisher | Palgrave Macmillan (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1017/s1682098325100106 |
| OpenAlex | W7124753831 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 36 |
The European Council is one, if not the , key institution of the European Union (EU). Coming together for the first time about 50 years ago, in March 1975, the European Council comprises notably the Heads of State or Government of the EU member states, thus linking national and European levels. It takes important decisions in various policy areas and has regularly expanded the EU’s agenda and competences. In recent years, the European Council has acted as the prime crisis manager. At the same time, because of its requirement for consensus and its own small internal capacities, it is vulnerable to blockades and depends on other EU institutions for the preparation and implementation of its decisions. This article analyzes the European Council as key actor in the EU’s multi-level and multi-institutional system of governance. Comparing and bringing together different theoretical perspectives, it critically examines its various roles, functions, and shortcomings. Contrary to the predominant view, the European Council – despite its intergovernmental composition – tends to strengthen the EU’s supranational procedures. With this institution becoming ever more important and visible, the paper also suggests avenues for the further study of the European Council
Comparative politics · European integration · European studies · European union · European Union law · Government (linguistics · Institution · Prime minister · Commonwealth, Australian Politics and Federalism · European Union Policy and Governance · Global Financial Regulation and Crises
The European Council and the Council
The Engines of European Integration
The New Intergovernmentalism
Agreeing on the European Covid-19 budget package – multiple streams in the European Union
Steering Europe
Why has EU macroeconomic governance become more supranational
The Unexpected Winner of the Crisis
The European Council as a crisis manager and fusion driver
Credit Claiming in the European Union
National Parliamentary Control of European Union Affairs
The Post-Lisbon European Council Presidency
The European Union
An elephant on the 13th floor of the Berlaymont? European Council and Commission relations in legislative agenda setting
The institutional position of national parliaments in the European Union
The European Commission and the Covid-19 pandemic
Leadership in European crisis politics
Party politics in the European Council
Introduction
Intergovernmentalism in the European Union. A comparative federalism perspective
The Role of the EU Institutions in Establishing the European Stability Mechanism
Bargaining Power in the European Council
Building ‘Next Generation’ after the pandemic
Issue Hierarchization in Agenda‐Setting
New institutional leadership goes viral EU crisis reforms and the coming about of the covid recovery fund
Explaining Chief Executive Empowerment
Intergovernmentalism and its implications – new institutional leadership in major EU reforms
From transformation to demarcation
The soft hostage-taking of EU foreign policy
European Union budget politics
Increasing Returns, Path Dependence, and the Study of Politics
| Unique citing works | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 1 |
| Citation span | 2026 - 2026 (1) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 1 |