Description: Examines the everyday workings and political dynamics of the European Council in the EU system, and its role in resolving pressing crises through intergovernmental cooperation.
Brief description: Desmond Dinan is Professor of public policy at George Mason University, USA, where he holds an ad personam Jean Monnet Chaira. He is a leading authority on the EU and has written several books on the subject, notably Ever Closer Union (4th edition, 2010), and Europe Recast (2nd edition, 2014). He has been a visiting fellow at the Netherlands Institute for International Relations (Clingendael), in The Hague; the European University Institute, in Florence; and the European Parliamentary Research Service, in Brussels. He taught for six years at the College of Europe in both Bruges, Belgium, and Natolin, Poland.
Review Quotes:
"Desmond Dinan and Ralf Drachenberg are known to be leading experts on The European Council. With this book they confirm it again." --Klaus Welle, Former Secretary General of the European Parliament
"A must-read for anyone interested in the European Union. Comprehensive, informative, thoughtful, entertaining, and written in an accessible language. A brilliant foray into the inner workings of the European project and the best key for unlocking the secrets of the European Council. Trust my word as long-time practitioner." --Jim Cloos, Secretary-General of the Trans European Policy Studies Association, Belgium "This is the book to read to look inside the "black box" of the European Council. The authors provide a rich and illuminating analysis of the exercise of collective leadership in the Union, expertly guiding readers through the EUCO's intricate "mosaic", offering insight into its vibrant ecosystem and addressing key issues-including communication, the lack of EU-level accountability of the European Council, prospects for reform, and broader questions of EU legitimacy and efficiency." --Elena Baracani, Jean Monnet Chair on The EU as a Global Actor and Associate Professor in Political Science, University of Bologna, Italy "The book provides a thoughtful synthesis of the Council's institutional development, decision-making process, and political significance, making it a valuable contribution to a deeper understanding of how this key body influences European governance." --Irène Hill Affiliation, Oxford Brookes University, UK "Timely and well-written book covering the key developments, roles and influence of the European Council for the European integration and EU's role in the world." --Ingi Iusmen, University of Southampton, UK