The parliamentary dimension of the Council presidency

Abstract

Ask anyone about the European Union Presidency, and you are bound to be inundated with references to the executive. Indeed, at the very mention of the word “Presidency”, one imagines Ministers, cabinets and the Council of the European Union. Not surprisingly, given that the official name of the EU Presidency is the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. One could say that the parliamentary dimension seeks to somewhat correct this by ensuring that the parliament of the Member State holding the Presidency plays an important role during this time. The parliamentary dimension also provides a chance for members of the executive and the European Commission to meet and discuss topics with parliamentarians. Given that the parliamentary institutions are the representatives of the people, the parliamentary dimension’s lack of exposure is an unfortunate reality, and is symptomatic of the strong emphasis generally afforded to the executive, and, in the European context, the Council, which contributes to an unhealthy shift of power towards the executive, effectively weakening the necessary democratic hinge of parliamentary oversight. [excerpt]