European Union Council Presidencies

Ole Elgström is Professor in the Department of Political Science at Lund University, Sweden.

• 1. Introduction Ole Elgstrom2. The Agenda-Shaping Powers of the Council Presidency Jonas Tallberg3. 'The Honest Broker'? The Council Presidency as a Mediator Ole Elgstrom4. The Council Presidency and External Representation Rikard Bengtsson5. The Netherlands' Presidency of 1997: Between Ambition and Modesty Mendeltje Van Keulen and Jan Q.Th.Rood6. The British Presidency of 1998: New Labour, New Tone? Ian Manners7. The Finnish Presidency of 1999: Pragmatism and the Promotion of Finland's Position in Europe Teija Tiilikainen8. The French Presidency of 2000: An Arrogant Leader? Oliver Costa, Anne Couvidat and Jean-Pascal9. The Swedish Presidency of 2001: A Reflection of Swedish Identity Bo Bjurulf10. The Belgian Presidency of 2001: Cautious Leadership as Trademark Bart Kerremans and Edith Drieskens11. The Spanish Presidencies of 1989, 1995 and 2002: From Commitment to Reluctance towards European Integration Francesc Morata and Ana-Mar Fernandez12. Conclusion: Rationalist and Sociological Perpectives on the Council Presidency Ole Elgstrom and Jonas Tallberg