Between entrance point and talking shop – the communication of European Parliament and European Council Presidents

Interinstitutional relations are an important and dynamic feature of policymaking in the European Union (EU) and of executive governance in particular. Among the most under-researched relations rank the interactions between the European Parliament and the European Council. Being in direct contact only on few occasions, these two institutions mainly interact via their Presidents. This paper systematically assesses the communication of the European Parliament President at the opening of a European Council summit and, in turn, the report given by the European Council President to Parliament in the aftermath of a summit. Covering the four European Council and the five European Parliament Presidents since the entry into effect of the Lisbon Treaty, the paper analyzes communication along representation claims, the preferred mode of EU policymaking, and power-seeking. It finds variation not only between the two institutions but also among the officeholders of the same institution. Despite at times strong variation, communication tends to converge on issues considered a major challenge for the EU - such as crises - and where agreement of both institutions is necessary. The paper contributes to ongoing debates about interinstitutional relations and the future institutional and policy trajectory of the EU.