Conclusion. The Rotating Presidency of the Council: A Major Actor of the EU Here to Stay

The conclusion first looks back at the contributions of the 14 chapters gathered in the volume. They show that the presidencies of the Council play, or can play under certain circumstances, a role that is far more important than was predicted after the entry in force of the Treaty of Lisbon, and that is often underestimated. This chapter then examines 4 possible avenues for reform of the Council Presidency: a fixed-term Presidency, a strengthening of the role of the European Council, an enhanced responsibility for the Commission, and a reinforcement of the existing trio system. A significant reform of the rotating Presidency is however unlikely to happen at the medium term as national leaders are very attached to a system that clearly affirms the intergovernmental dimension of the Union. The semestrial national presidencies indeed stand as the best symbol of the hybridity of this political system and of its ability to reconcile national and supranational visions of the European general interest.