The European Council and Dissensus over Liberal Democracy

The European Council is a key actor with a crucial role in the promotion and protection of liberal democracy in times of challenges and dissensus. In view of the growing dissensus over liberal democracy among and within Member States, these functions have increasingly been under stress. The chapter argues that, while the European Council has played a key role in defining, promoting and enshrining the EU’s liberal democratic norms within EU Treaties, EU policies as well as its relations towards third countries, the institution has struggled to go beyond general statements and to deal with internal breaches. Hindered by its functioning as an institution that builds intergovernmental consensus among EU leaders, it risks being rendered ineffective by the growing dissensus over liberal democratic norms within the EU.