ABSTRACT
With the coming into force of the Lisbon Treaty, the EU not only welcomed a couple of new players to its commanding heights, old players had to change their role on the field as well. 1 One of these old players is the rotating presidency of the Council of Ministers, officially the Council of the EU. It was in particular the introduction of a semi-permanent president of the European Council (EUCO) that dramatically altered the institutional environment in which the Council presidency has to operate. However, the treaty remains rather vague, if not silent, about the way in which the relationship between the Council presidency and the EUCO president should work. Of course, this leaves room for manoeuvre to the players who need to implement the provisions of the Lisbon Treaty on a daily basis.
