We use cookies in order to ensure that you can get the best browsing experience possible on the Council website. Certain cookies are used to obtain aggregated statistics about website visits to help us constantly improve the site and better serve your needs. Other cookies are used to boost performance and guarantee security of the website.
With your permission, we will use AT internet cookies to produce aggregated, anonymous data about our visitors' browsing and behaviour on our website. We will use this data to improve your experience on our website.
To get more information about these cookies, how and why we use them and how you can change your settings, check our cookies policy page.
The European Council defines the EU's overall political direction and priorities. It is not one of the EU's legislating institutions, so does not negotiate or adopt EU laws. Instead it sets the EU's policy agenda, traditionally by adopting 'conclusions' during European Council meetings which identify issues of concern and actions to take.
The members of the European Council are the heads of state or government of the 27 EU member states, the European Council President and the President of the European Commission.
The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy also takes part in European Council meetings when foreign affairs issues are discussed.
Decision-making process
The European Council mostly takes its decisions by consensus. However, in certain specific cases outlined in the EU treaties, it decides by unanimity or by qualified majority.
If a vote is taken, neither the European Council President nor the Commission President take part.
President Charles Michel presented the main results of EU leaders' discussions following the meetings of the European Council on 21 and 22 October 2021
European leaders and social partners met, via video conference, at the occasion of the tripartite social summit to discuss Europe’s recovery and long-term sustainable growth for more and better jobs.
In his speech at the Malmö International Forum on Holocaust and Remembrance, European Council President Charles Michel recalled that the EU was conceived and built as a project of solidarity, cooperation, and tolerance.
At the joint press conference with President Ursula von der Leyen and President Volodymyr Zelensky, President Charles Michel presented the main results of the EU-Ukraine summit held in Kyiv on 12 October 2021.
The EU-Western Balkans summit took place in Brdo pri Kranju, Slovenia, on 6 October 2021. EU leaders agreed on the Brdo declaration, with which the Western Balkans partners have aligned themselves.
President of the European Council Charles Michel presented the main conclusions from the informal meeting of the EU leaders held in Brdo pri Kranju, Slovenia.
European Council President Charles Michel delivered a speech during the award ceremony of the International Charlemagne Prize to Klaus Iohannis, on 2 October 2021, in Aachen.
Weekly schedule of President Charles Michel 2 – 10 October 2021
The European Council defines the EU's overall political direction and priorities
European Council meetings
The European Council meets at least twice every 6 months. Its meetings, often referred to as 'EU summits' are held in Brussels, in the Europa building.
Meetings are chaired by the European Council President. The President can also convene extraordinary European Council meetings when needed.
The President of the European Parliament attends the start of each meeting, to outline the European Parliament's views. Other people, such as the President of the European Central Bank, may be invited to attend meetings, depending on the issues being discussed.
The main theme of this Tripartite Social summit was "Transforming Europe's recovery into long-term sustainable growth supporting more and better jobs". The meeting took place via video conference.
Leaders from EU member states and Western Balkans partners met for a summit hosted by the Slovenian Presidency of the Council in Brdo pri Kranju, Slovenia.
EU leaders met in Brussels to discuss COVID-19, economic recovery, migration, LGBTQI equality and external relations, including relations with Turkey and Russia.
An EU-US summit took place in Brussels on 15 June 2021. The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, represented the EU. President Joe Biden represented the United States.
The 18th EU-Canada summit took place in Brussels on 14 June 2021. The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, represented the EU. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau represented Canada.
This year's G7 summit took place in Cornwall, United Kingdom, from 11 to 13 June 2021. The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, represented the EU.
First meeting of the European Council in Dublin on 11 March 1975
History of the European Council
The European Council was created in 1974 as an informal forum for discussion between heads of state or government of the EU member states. It soon developed a role as the body responsible for fixing EU goals and priorities.
Under the Treaty of Maastricht in 1992, the European Council acquired a formal status and role - to provide the impetus and general political guidelines for the EU.
In 2009, following the changes introduced by the Lisbon Treaty, the European Council became one of the 7 EU institutions.
