Description: An updated edition offering an assessment of the European Council, taking account of historical and contemporary developments and the institution's wider impact on EU governance.
Brief description: Wolfgang Wessels is Jean Monnet Professor of Political Science, University of Cologne, Germany.
Review Quotes:
"Anyone who wants to understand the EU must understand how the European Council works. Or vice versa. This book is an academic yet accessible guide to this journey. It offers exceptionally clear insights into the past and the future. A must-read for future Presidents of the European Council!" --Herman Van Rompuy, Former President of the European Council
"This wide-ranging and thorough study provides a thoughtful analysis of the role and functions of the European Council - a must read for all students of EU institutional politics." --Dame Helen Wallace, former Foreign Secretary of the British Academy "This book is long overdue. Arguably the EU's most consequential institution, the European Council finally receives the scholarly attention it deserves. This impressive volume offers an authoritative analysis of the European Council, situates it within the EU's broader policymaking framework, and contextualizes its role in the contested trajectory of European integration. Engagingly written, it is essential reading for both scholars and practitioners interested in EU politics and integration." --Berthold Rittberger, Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich, Germany