The European Council's First Decade: Between Interdependence and Domestic Politics.

It is the objective of this article to give some kind of assessment of the European Council's work over the last decade. Why was it created? How far has it fulfilled its general objectives? How well has it performed its functions? What has been its impact? These are some of the questions which this article aims to address. One cautionary note must be recorded: this is not intended to be a descriptive paper outlining the European Council's composition, operation and achievements. Rather, it aims to look at the performance of summitry From a more 'abstract' perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]