The scheduling power of the EU Council Presidency. Issue 5 (14th May 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Häge, Frank M.
• Is Part Of: Journal of European public policy. Volume 24:Issue 5(2017)
• Page Start: 695
• Page End: 713
• Publication Date: 2017-05-14
• Subjects: Agenda-setting -- Council of the European Union -- political attention -- Presidency -- scheduling power; European Union countries -- Politics and government -- Periodicals; Political planning -- European Union countries -- Periodicals; Politique publique -- Pays de l'Union européenne -- Périodiques; Pays de l'Union européenne -- Politique et gouvernement -- Périodiques; 361.61094
• DOI: 10.1080/13501763.2016.1158203
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1350-1763

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Does the Presidency of the Council of the European Union have the ability to direct the political attention of this body by emphasizing and de-emphasizing policy issues according to its own priorities? This study examines this question empirically by relying on a new dataset on the monthly meeting duration of Council working parties in different policy areas between 1995 and 2014. The results of variance component analyses show that a considerable part of the over-time variation in the relative amount of political attention devoted to a policy area is systematically related to different Presidency periods. While not negating the constraints imposed on the Presidency by inherited agendas, programming and co-ordination requirements with other actors, the findings are consistent with the view that the Presidency has substantial scope for agenda-setting by determining what issues are being discussed, when they are being discussed and how much time is devoted for their discussion.