Politische Konsensmaschine mit legislativen Folgen: Der Europäische Rat als unverzichtbare Triebfeder der Haushaltsverhandlungen der Europäischen Union

The European Council has played a prominent role in the negotiations on the multiannual financial framework (MFF) of the European Union (EU) in six rounds so far. The European Council dominates the MFF negotiations and largely determines their outcome. It has become the key dealmaker and the most crucial venue for the MFF negotiations in the EU, as only the Heads of State or Government are in a position to quickly agree on binding, comprehensive and cross-policy solutions for the negotiations. However, this special role of the European Council goes far beyond the role assigned to it by the Lisbon Treaty and creates tensions and friction with the EU‘s budgetary legislators, the Council and the European Parliament.