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Five years as president of the European Council: lessons and challenges

This Synthesis presents the debates following Herman Van Rompuy’s speech during a conference organised by Notre Europe – Jacques Delors Institute, in partnership with Sciences Po Paris on 25 November 2014, aiming at taking stock of his presidency.

On 25 November 2014, a few days before the end of his term of office, the first president of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, took stock of his five years as president of the institution, and of the challenges that the EU still has to face, during a conference organised by Notre Europe – Jacques Delors Institute, in partnership with Sciences Po Paris.

This Synthesis by Claire Versini presents the main issues raised by Herman Van Rompuy in his speech and during the debate that followed.

It focuses ont three key elements:
1. The role of the European Council and its president
2. Taking stock of five years of domestic policy
3. Taking stock of five years of external policy