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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 spoke with Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Boris Johnson following the agreement reached on the future relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union.
President Charles Michel presented to the European Parliament the outcome of the latest European Council and Euro Summit meetings held on 10 and 11 December 2020.
On 10 and 11 December 2020, the European Council adopted conclusions on the MFF and Next Generation EU, COVID-19, climate change, security and external relations.
The European Council appointed Frank Elderson as a member of the European Central Bank's executive board. He will take up his duties on 15 December 2020 for a non-renewable term of eight years.
European Council President took stock of the past year and outlined the challenges of the year ahead. He also introduced his book, a collection of his speeches: “Going forward with confidence”.
One year after taking office, President of the European Council Charles Michel, takes stock of 2020 and looks forward to future challenges in "Going forward with confidence", a collection of his speeches.
European Council President Charles Michel today proposed an international treaty on pandemics while participating by video message in the Special Session of the UN General Assembly in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
European Council President Charles Michel participated to a video conference in support of the Lebanese people chaired by French President Macron and UNSG Guterres.
President Michel met with Prime Minister Costa in Brussels to discuss European priorities of the upcoming Portuguese presidency of the Council. They also discussed the preparation of the December European Council meeting
European Council President Charles Michel and President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El-Ghazouani, current Chair of the G5 Sahel, co-chaired the high-level video conference on 30 November 2020. The Secretary General of the United Nations and the African Union Commission Chairperson also participated.
Weekly schedule of President Charles Michel 30 November - 6 December 2020
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.
EU leaders met in Brussels to discuss the long-term EU budget 2021-2027 and the recovery package, further coordination on COVID-19, climate change, security and external relations, and to hold a Euro Summit.
European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison via video conference.
Meeting via video conference, EU leaders agreed to further strengthen coordination against the COVID-19 pandemic. They focused in particular on mutual recognition of tests, vaccine deployment and a common approach to lifting restrictive measures.
Charles Michel, President of the European Council, and Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, met with Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada, via video conference. They discussed COVID-19 and economic recovery, EU-Canada relations, and international issues.
On 1 and 2 October, EU leaders met in Brussels to discuss foreign affairs and the EU's economic base.
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.
