Small States and EU Governance shows that the EU's rotating Council presidency and small states' capacity to make use of it have been underestimated. It examines the political objectives the presidency serves and presents a systematic and comparative assessment of its nature and influence in internal market and foreign policy issues.

This book describes, analyses, explains and compares the role performance of different presidencies. The expert and international authors ask why member states have different approaches and play the role differently, prioritising different functions and using a variety of strategies to realise their aspirations. The book consists of three parts i) describes the functions of the presidency, ii) compares nine different presidencies and iii) a concluding section comparing media images, and summaries looking at member state characteristics and behaviour.

This volume, published in the context of the Finnish Presidency of the European Union (EU), aims to highlight how and why the health dimension can and should be taken into account across all government sectors. Particular emphasis is placed on the unique mandate and obligation of the EU to protect health in all its policies. The topic is explored from the perspectives of available methods and different levels of policy-making, and examples are included from specific policy areas and health issues.

With a focus on governmental institutions, this book explores the ways in which EU membership has altered the balance of power among key political actors. The authors discuss cultural adaptation to integration, as well as examining the views of the elite and voters. The transformation in national identity, sovereignty and neutrality are also examined.

Introduction / Nengye Liu, Elizbeth A. Kirk and Tore Henriksen -- Formulating a cross-cutting policy : challenges and opportunities for effective EU Arctic policy-making / Adam Stepien and Timo Koivurova -- The EU crossing Arctic frontiers : the Barents Euro-Arctic Council, Northern dimension, and EU-West Nordic relations / Alyson J.K. Bailes and Kristmundur Olafsson -- Strengthening the European Union : Greenland's relationship for enhanced governance of the Arctic / Mar Campins Eritja -- Partners or rivals' Norway and the European Union in the High North / Andreas Osthagen and Andreas Raspotnik -- Searching for common ground in evolving Canadian and EU Arctic strategies / P. Whitney Lackenbauer and Suzanne Lalonde -- Russian Arctic policy, petroleum resources development, and the EU : cooperation or coming confrontation? / Tina Hunter -- Gauging US and EU seal regimes in the Arctic against Inuit sovereignty / Michael Fakhri -- The European Union and Arctic shipping / Henrik Ringbom -- The European Union's potential contribution to the governance of high sea fisheries in the Central Arctic Ocean / Nengye Liu -- On thin Ice, Arctic indigenous communities, the European Union, and the sustainable use of marine mammals / Martin Hennig and Richard Caddell -- Joint approaches and best practices : an integrated and coherent EU Arctic policy in support of Articles 208 and 214 UNCLOS / Henning Jessen -- Conclusion / Nengye Liu, Elizabeth A. Kirk and Tore Henriksen

In 2009, the Lisbon Treaty became effective within the European Union, substantially changing the existing institution through its amendments, and this book investigates how the rotating presidency is affected by the Lisbon Treaty and how the Belgian presidency--the first under the new rule book--has implemented changes for the 21st century. It shows that Belgium has created a new style of rotating presidency, going back to the basics of chairing the Council, while adjusting to its new political and institutional environment and setting precedents for the future. This examination will appeal to students and scholars of European Union politics well beyond the Member States.