Council of Ministers Political Authority in the European Union

Based on detailed interviews she conducted with key EU officials and national ministers and her observations at council sessions, Philippa Sherrington provides a much-needed analysis of the most crucial of European Union institutions and makes an original contribution to the debate on power and legitimacy in the EU. She presents a detailed account of the way in which business is really conducted in this most secret of institutions, demonstrating that the Council of Ministers remains the ultimate decision-maker in the EU. She draws on both policy analysis and negotiation theory to make her argument.