How to Prepare for the EU Presidency: National Strategy and Transfer of Practices.

Even after the Lisbon Treaty, the rotating Presidency of the Council is still considered as a political opportunity to be seized by member states as a tool to prove their level of European integration in terms of administrative capacity and efficiency. As a result, the member state concerned by this exercise often makes a demonstrative effort at both national and international levels. With a view to better preparing for Presidency, member states often choose to implement targeted training programs, and sometimes a 3-months to one-year intensive training program. The main objective of these programs is usually to strengthen the administrative capacity of the officials in charge of European affairs by transferring know-how and good practices. Another overall purpose of these programs is to bring to the foreground a common administrative culture. The complexity of the missions incumbent upon the member state exercising the presidency, justifies this effort in training and transfer of expertise. It also makes the use of this « Presidency momentum » as an instrument of legitimization in relation to national and European public opinion.