Title: THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EU - PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE
Abstract: The European Council and the Council of the European Union are two of the main institutions of the European Union.The first holds the political powers of the organization, being fundamental in its development and deeper integration as all the Treaties need its approval.The second, the Council of the European Union is the main actor in the European Union, as its role inside the organization is the most influential.Both organizations represent the member states, and traditionally have been a stronghold of the intergovernmental side of the EU.Currently both still play a crucial role in the organization, but they are losing ground to other institutions based on federalism or neofunctionalism, like the European Parliament or the European Commission.The future of the Council will mark the future of the Union, and hence it is primordial to reform the institutions to face the new challenges of the XXI century.