DOI 10.55206/JBDU6011

Monika Panayotova

University of National and World Economy

Email: monika.panayotova@unwe.bg

Abstract: The aim of the article is to draw attention to a specific aspect of rhetoric related to practices in the European Union by focusing on the interdisciplinary research into the specifics of public speaking during the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union. The hypothesis posits that the combination of persuasion techniques from Aristotle’s “rhetorical triangle” and Sinek’s “golden circle” and a good knowledge of the historical, political, institutional, and regulatory aspects related to the European Union allow the speaker – prime minister or head of state of a country holding the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU – to achieve the necessary depth and inclusiveness of the messages required for effective public speaking in front of the European institutions. As empirical evidence, an analysis was made of the speech delivered to the European Parliament by the Prime Minister of Denmark on July 8, 2025, outlining the priorities of their rotating presidency. As a result, conclusions have been drawn that provide a “binocular view” containing both perspectives of rhetorical art and European political analysis, which will be useful both to those interested in rhetoric, public communications, European studies, political science, and international relations, as well as the teams of the future second Bulgarian rotating presidency of the Council of the EU.

Keywords: EU, rhetoric, rotating presidency, Aristotle’s rhetorical triangle, Sinek’s golden circle

Rhetoric and Communications Journal, issue 65, October 2025

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