In the
politics of the European Union
The political structure of the European Union (EU) is similar to a confederation, where many policy areas are Federation, federalised into common Institutions of the European Union, institutions capable of making law; the competences to control ...
, an Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) is the formal procedure for negotiating amendments to the EU's founding treaties. Under the treaties, an IGC is called into being by the
European Council
The European Council (informally EUCO) is a collegiate body (directorial system) and a symbolic collective head of state, that defines the overall political direction and general priorities of the European Union (EU). It is composed of the he ...
, and is composed of representatives of the member states, with the
Commission
In-Commission or commissioning may refer to:
Business and contracting
* Commission (remuneration), a form of payment to an agent for services rendered
** Commission (art), the purchase or the creation of a piece of art most often on behalf of anot ...
, and to a lesser degree the
Parliament
In modern politics and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions: Representation (politics), representing the Election#Suffrage, electorate, making laws, and overseeing ...
also participating.
An IGC will conclude with a meeting of the European Council, at which any political issues requiring resolution at the level of Heads of State or Government will be resolved, and final political agreement will be reached. A final treaty text in each of the community languages will then be prepared by the legal and linguistic experts of the member states, before being presented to the member states for signature and ratification.
List of International Governmental Conferences
* The Intergovernmental Conference on the EMU of 1991
* The Intergovernmental Conference on the Political Union of 1991
*
Intergovernmental Conference on the Common Market and Euratom of 1956.
* Intergovernmental Conference on the Constitutional Treaty of 1966
* Intergovernmental Conference on the Constitutional Treaty of 2004
* Intergovernmental Conference on the Lisbon Treaty of 2007
See also
*
Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore, also known as "IGC"
References
{{reflist
*
Conference on the Future of Europe
*
Convention on the Future of Europe
*
Convention to propose amendments to the United States Constitution
*
European Assizes
*
European Convention (disambiguation)
*
Intergovernmental Conference on the Common Market and Euratom of 1956.
*
Sherpa (G8)
A sherpa is the personal representative of a head of state or head of government who prepares an international summit, such as the annual G7 and G20 summits. Between the G7 summits there are multiple sherpa conferences where possible agreements ...
*
Spaak method
Treaties of the European Union