The fundamental task of the European Council – consisting primarily of the heads of state or government in the EU member states – has been to define the EU´s general political direction. Its influence and scope of intervention, however, is gradually increasing. With the Lisbon Treaty it was given a status of an EU institution and its meetings are since chaired by a permanent president. The European Council has been playing a pivotal decision-making role during the euro crisis, and it now emerges as the EU´s new power centre.

At this seminar, Uwe Puetter, Professor of Political Science, will provide a background to those developments and will analyse the implications of an increasingly stronger position of the European Council. What consequences does it have for decision-making in the EU, and how does a stronger European Council correspond to increasing demands for transparency and democratic control? 

Speaker:
Uwe Puetter, Professor of Political Science, Central European University, Budapest, Hungary

Commentators:
Jonas Tallberg, Professor of Political Science, Stockholm University
Katarina Areskoug Mascarenhas, State Secretary to Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt 

Moderator:
Pernilla Bäckman, Researcher in Political Science, SIEPS

Time: Tuesday 8 October, 14.30-16.00. Registration/coffee from 14.00 
Venue: Medelhavsmuseet, Fredsgatan 2, Stockholm 
Language: English

Register no later than 6 October

The seminar is free of charge and open to the public. Each participant will receive a copy of the publication presented.