Interaction between the European Parliament and the European Council: Parliament's plenary debates on European Council conclusions

Plenary debates on the conclusions of European Council meetings with the president of the European Council are among the most visible and frequently recurring interactions between Parliament and the European Council. These debates are important because they are the only place at EU level where the results of European Council meetings are examined and scrutinised, and the institution is held accountable. By examining and assessing the reports made by Charles Michel to the European Parliament following European Council meetings in 2022, and the subsequent interventions of MEPs, this EPRS analysis provides a unique overview of these interactions. The research outlines the added value of the plenary reports and identifies potential ways to further increase the accountability of the European Council at EU level.