The presidency of the Council of the European Union : an administrative and political challenge

Šabič, Zlatko (author), Cerjak, Kira (author)

There are various ways and means for the EU Presidency to influence the EU agenda, shape negotiation processes and form policy solution proposals for issues under consideration. These capabilities, that are both administrative and political, enable the presiding country to exercise more influence on negotiation outcomes than in times of ordinary membership. Building on the example of the Slovenian EU Presidency of 2008, the article presents the delicate interplay of both administrative and political dimension of being at the helm of the EU. We argue that Slovenia successfully handled the logistics of the Presidency. Further, it showed the ability to lead and was successful on some priorities, in particular concerning the Western Balkans. However, it proved weaker when it came to political leadership, which was evident in the case of the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty. By committing itself to ratify the Lisbon treaty as early as possible in order to set an example, Slovenia missed a good opportunity to offer, as a holder of the EU Presidency, a broader perspective on the ratification process of the Lisbon treaty and stimulate public debate on the EU in general. With this it failed to assume a symbolic-emotional leadership, which admittedly is not an easy thing to do, yet for a Presidency is equally important as its administrative role.

• Language: English
• Work type: Not categorized
• Typology: 1.02 - Review Article
• Organization: FDV - Faculty of Social Sciences
• Year: 2012
• Number of pages: Str. 58-77
• Numbering: God. 54, [br.] 2
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-45444
• UDC: 061.1EU
• ISSN on article: 0409-2953
• COBISS.SI-ID: 31770973
• Publication date in RUL: 10.07.2015

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Bezbednost
• Shortened title: Bezbednost
• Publisher: Republički sekretarijat za unutrašnje poslove
• ISSN: 0409-2953
• COBISS.SI-ID: 2999042