ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on two 'power centres' of the European Union (EU): the European Council and the presidency. It focuses on the European Council. The chapter shows why the European Council could be seen as a 'semi-formal' institution and discusses the impact of different sources of power for bargaining processes in the European Council. It also focuses on the presidency. The chapter explores the role and functions of the presidency, gives explanations for differences in role interpretation on the part of the member states, and highlights changes that the Treaty of Lisbon (ToL) would introduce for the presidency, concerning the European Council. It presents the European Council as a 'semi-formal' institution and elaborates on the question of member states' power during bargaining processes in the European Council. The chapter concludes with insights that could be drawn from the discussion on the European Council and the presidency for global governance.
