- EU Council bibliography
- 18. prosince 2024
Library guide on the Council Bibliographies Collection
To mark the 50th anniversary of the European Council, the General Secretariat of the Council looks back on its key achievements and the developments and key moments in its history.
In marking this occasion, the Council Library has a role to play as a treasure hunter. Over the years, the Council Library has built up a valuable repository, the Council Bibliographies Collection.
The Council Bibliographies at the heart of the Council Library
This meticulously curated collection constitutes a growing ‘published memory’ of printed and electronic publications (including papers, books, chapters, reports, etc.) that aim to enhance understanding of the history, role and functioning of the European Council, the Council of the EU and the General Secretariat of the Council, from an academic point of view.
50 Years of the European Council: a journey through the Library collections
To use just one example: would you like to know the fundamental factors explaining why Europe’s executive leaders invested time and energy in the emergence of the European Council? Primary sources, such as the Council Archives are obvious sources of information. However, other useful sources include secondary sources from the Council Bibliographies, such as: ‘The Maastricht Treaty and the European Council: the history of an institutional evolution’ by Wolfgang Wessels, in: Journal of European integration (2012). By consulting these sources, you can discover how the European Council became the key institution that helped them emerge as powerful actors in a multi-institutional architecture.
An ever-growing collection, constantly enriched with new references.
Whether you are delving into historical research, seeking insights on contemporary topics, exploring thematic issues, or satisfying your intellectual curiosity, the Council Bibliographies Collection provides a reliable compass.
It contains more than 1 000 documents related to the European Council and covers more than 65 years of analysis by academic researchers or policy makers. If you are more interested in the Council of the EU or the rotating Presidency, you can find endless ways of exploring the 2 000 records relating to the Council!
The selection and acquisition process is done by human beings (AI has not yet come onto the scene!). The result cannot be exhaustive. So, if you notice that an important publication is missing which could usefully add to the collection, please do not hesitate to let the librarians know!
To help readers locate the most recent or relevant documents about our institutions, the Council Library has developed a library guide containing a wide variety of useful resources.
Library Guide on the Council Bibliographies Collection
This Library Guide provides an overview of a selection of available relevant and authoritative resources, although it is by no means exhaustive.
Browsing through the tabs by institution, you will find books and eBooks, articles and think tank papers, EU publications, information platforms and videos.
This post does not necessarily represent the positions, policies, or opinions of the Council of the European Union or the European Council.
The Council Library reading room is open on Monday to Friday from 12.30 to 15.30. The Info Desk operates during office hours from Monday to Friday.
If you are a researcher or university student, you are welcome to visit our reading room for on-site consultation of our collections.