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Publications

Essays in contemporary history rather than journalism, the character of the European Council Studies has been maintained. The scope of both our publications and our meetings programme has nevertheless been enlarged in 2023.

As the hub of EU government, the European Council demands the engagement of Europe’s leaders on a continuous basis. It is in other words a process as well as a series of discrete events.

The Pre-Summit Briefings

Issued on the eve of each meeting of the European Council or the Euro Area Summit, the Pre-Summit notes review and explain the agenda and predict the likely outcome.

The Post-Summit Briefings

Appearing seven days after each meeting of the heads of state and government, these notes of approximately 5000 words in length provide a comprehensive analysis of the discussion and its outcome. Based on oral and documentary sources which are not normally available, they provide a unique and authoritative insight into decision-making at the heart of the EU.

Commentaries on the EU Leaders' Agenda

This is a new publication. Written by a team of authors, each of whom has an intimate acquaintance with the way in which the EU system works, the commentaries are 5000 words or more in length. The focus of each of them is the collective agenda of the leaders of 27 sovereign states and the Commission. As such it can and does encompass any policy areas which the leaders regard as important or which events oblige them to consider.  The subject-matter of the monthly commentaries is bound therefore to vary. The commentaries are however tethered to political and institutional realities, which impose constraints on what the EU can do.

Commentaries: Authors and Advisers 

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  • Peter Ludlow, Chairman EuroComment

  • Poul Christoffersen, former Danish permanent representative

  • Jim Cloos, Secretary General of TEPSA, formerly Director General in EU Council Secretariat

  • Tony Connolly, Brussels correspondent of the RTE

  • Uwe Corsepius, former EU adviser of the German chancellor

  • Gilles Gressani and others associated with Le Grand Continent

  • Daniel Gros, former Director of CEPS, Brussels

  • Declan Kelleher, former Irish permanent representative

  • Jacob Kierkegaard, Peterson Institute of International Economics 

  • Stefan Lehne, Carnegie Institute. Former Director General for Political Affairs in the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

  • Beda Romano, Brussels correspondent of 24 Ore

  • Holger Schmieding, Chief Economist, Berenberg Bank

  • Jorge Vasconcelos, President of NEWES and former Energy Regulator, Portugal

  • Robert Vass, President of Globsec, Bratislava and members of Globsec’s Network

  • Pierre Vimont, Carnegie Institute, former French permanent representative and secretary general of the EEAS

  • Nicholas Whyte, Head of Global Solutions Programme, APCO, Brussels​

Papers written by Peter Ludlow since 2000 can be made available for scholars. The price varies but most of the Briefing Notes evaluating one or more European Council meeting cost €40 while a whole year of evaluations can be bought for €200. If interested please contact us via email using the button below.

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