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  • The European Council
    • The European Council

      The European Council is the EU institution that defines the general political direction and priorities of the European Union. It consists of the heads of state or government of the member states, together with its President and the President of the Commission. 

      • Read more about the role of the European Council
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  • The Council of the EU
    • The Council of the European Union

      The Council of the EU is the institution representing the member states' governments. Also known informally as the EU Council, it is where national ministers from each EU country meet to adopt laws and coordinate policies.

      Read more about the work of the Council 

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      The European Council brings together EU leaders at least four times a year.

      The Council of the EU meets in different configurations depending on the topic discussed.

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In the news

  • 24 December 2020
  • Press release

EU and UK agree a deal on future relations

"These have been very challenging negotiations but the process is not over. Now is the time for the Council and the European Parliament to analyse the agreement reached at negotiators’ level, before they give their green lights," said President Michel.

  • 22 December 2020
  • Digital story

From crisis to recovery: the work of the Council in 2020

  • 23 December 2020
  • Video

We are stronger together, say EU leaders in their year-end message

Press releases

  • 28 December 2020

    Read out of the phone call between President Charles Michel and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson

  • 28 December 2020

    Weekly schedule of President Charles Michel

  • 25 December 2020

    Ethiopia: Declaration by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union

  • 24 December 2020

    Press release: European Council President Charles Michel on the agreement on the future EU-UK relationship

  • 23 December 2020

    Forward look: 24 December 2020 - 3 January 2021

See all press releases

Ongoing and past meetings

  • 18 December 2020

    EU-Azerbaijan Cooperation Council

  • 17 December 2020

    Environment Council

  • 17 December 2020

    EU-Armenia Partnership Council

  • 17 December 2020

    Video conference of the members of the Serbia Stabilisation and Association Council

  • 16 December 2020

    Video conference of the Eurogroup

  • 15-16 December 2020

    Agriculture and Fisheries Council

See all past meetings

Future meetings

  • 18 January 2021

    Eurogroup

  • 19 January 2021

    Economic and Financial Affairs Council

  • 25 January 2021

    Agriculture and Fisheries Council

  • 25 January 2021

    Foreign Affairs Council

  • 26 January 2021

    General Affairs Council

  • 26 January 2021

    General Affairs Council (Cohesion)

See all future meetings

In focus

5 ways the EU and member states are fighting COVID-19
EU-UK negotiations
5 facts about the EU's goal of climate neutrality
Topics
COVID-19
Foreign affairs & international relations
Home Affairs
Economy & finance
EU recovery plan

What is the Council?

The role of the European Council and the Council of the EU explained

The European Council

The European Council consists of the heads of state or government of the EU's member states, together with its President and the European Commission President. It defines the EU's general political direction and priorities.

  • The European Council
  • Setting the EU's political agenda
  • The President of the European Council

The Council of the EU

The Council of the EU represents the member states' governments. Informally also known as the EU Council, it is where national ministers from each EU country meet to adopt laws and coordinate policies.

  • The Council of the European Union
  • Council configurations
  • The presidency of the Council of the EU
  • Eurogroup
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