The term Arraiolos meeting refers to the multinational informal convention of, both executive and non-executive, presidents of European Union member states, held roughly once in a year. A political forum for the heads of state of parliamentary republics and also some semi-presidential republics (as opposed to constitutional monarchies or countries governed by a presidential system) who according to the respective constitutions and constitutional conventions they may vary in their role from being significantly executive to largely ceremonial, it deals with questions and problems concerning the current state and future development of the EU as well as how to approach the challenges of globalisation.
The name is derived from the small Portuguese town of Arraiolos, where the first meeting took place in 2003. Jorge Sampaio, then the President of Portugal, had invited the presidents of Finland, Germany, as well as of soon-to-be EU members Hungary, Latvia and Poland to discuss the consequences of the 2004 enlargement of the European Union and plans for a Constitution for Europe.
Following the 2005 meeting, the seven participating presidents wrote a joint article titled "Together for Europe" about their conception of the European community. It was published on 15 July 2005 by Diena, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Gazeta Wyborcza, Público, Helsingin Sanomat, la Repubblica and Der Standard, leading newspapers of the respective countries.
Meetings and participants
The table shows which presidents participated in the various meetings.