European Union countries are embroiled in a deepening dispute over an Italian proposal to temporarily drop import tariffs on dozens of raw industrial goods, a move supposed to help EU manufacturers weather the economic crisis.

We turn to the composition and the tasks of the European Council as laid down in the existing treaties and the European Union’s Treaty of Lisbon. *** Current treaty Article 4 of the existing Treaty on European Union (TEU) lays down the tasks and the composition of the European Council (in the latest consolidated version of the treaties, OJEU 29.12.2006 C 321 E/12). The words impetus and guid...

Formally, the Council of the European Union is convened by its President in accordance with Article 204 of the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC). Cf. the latest consolidated version of the treaties, published OJEU 29.12.2006 C 321 E/136. Under the Treaty of Lisbon, the corresponding provision would be Article 237 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), publish...

Formally, the Council of the European Union is convened by its President in accordance with Article 204 of the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC). Cf. the latest consolidated version of the treaties, published OJEU 29.12.2006 C 321 E/136. Under the Treaty of Lisbon, the corresponding provision would be Article 237 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), publish...

The current Article 4 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU) uses a sweeping formula to describe the tasks of the European Council (OJEU 29.12.2006 C 321 E/12): Article 4 TEU The European Council shall provide the Union with the necessary impetus for its development and shall define the general political guidelines thereof. *** General tasks Impetus and general political guidelines cover all areas ...

In the European Voice, Peter S. Rashish mentions the emergence of Poland to complement the European heavyweights Germany and France, and he looks at the implications for the transatlantic relationship: A new balance of power emerges (12 June 2009). European election results The internal power balance in the European Union and the relationship with the USA are determined primarily on state level, b...

European Union authorities launched cartel raids on major truck manufacturers in Europe on Tuesday (18 January), including the industry's top two firms.

Here are some comments from Declan Ganley on the European Union. On the European Union "I believe in the European project. I believe in the absolute necessity of its success". Ganley address to Heritage Foundation "We believe that the European Union has limitless potential. We believe that by working together, Europeans can translate shared values into an ambitious vision that lights up the next c...

The first Convention prepared the Charter of Fungamental Rights of the European Union, and it was solemnly adopted as politically binding at the European Council in Nice, in December 2000. Later it was incorporated into the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe, as Part II, and published in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) 16.12.2004 C 310. When the ratification processes ...

Europe's carmakers want more money, in part to cope with a brand new EU law. The day after the European Parliament voted for new rules to govern the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) cars can emit, the car manufacturers say they need a loan of 40bn euros (£38bn). The boss of the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA), Ivan Hodac, says: "It will cost us an enormous amoun...