European Council conclusions

European Council conclusions are adopted during each European Council meeting. They are used to identify specific issues of concern for the EU and outline particular actions to take or goals to reach. European Council conclusions can also set a deadline for reaching agreement on a particular item or for the presentation of legislative proposal. In this way, the European Council is able to influence and guide the EU's policy agenda.

Ahead of the European Council meeting, the President of the European Council drafts guidelines for the conclusions. These are then discussed at the General Affairs Council and later adopted at the European Council meeting. Conclusions are adopted by consensus between all EU member states.

European Council conclusions from 2004 onwards are available in the public register of official documents.

• European Council conclusions (2004-present day)

Conclusions prior to 2004 are available via the links below.

• European Council conclusions (1993-2003)
• European Council conclusions (1975-1992)

The European Council also holds informal or exceptional meetings of heads of state or government, sometimes with a third country (a country outside of the EU). Following these meetings, leaders usually adopt a statement or declaration rather than official conclusions. 

These documents are not available in the public register. Those adopted since 2004 are listed below:

• informal and exceptional meetings:

• Conclusions by the President of the European Council, 9 March 2017
• Malta Declaration by the members of the European Council on the external aspects of migration: addressing the Central Mediterranean route, 3 February 2017
• Bratislava declaration and roadmap, 16 September 2016
• Informal meeting at 27 - Brussels, 29 June 2016 - Statement
• Statement - informal meeting of the heads of state or government, 23 September 2015
• Special meeting of the European Council, 23 April 2015 - statement
• Statement by the members of the European Council on the fight against terrorism, 12 February 2015
• Statement by the heads of state or government on Greece - Brussels, 11 February 2010

• meetings with Turkey:

• Statement of the EU Heads of State or Government, 07 March 2016
• Meeting of the heads of state or government with Turkey - EU-Turkey Statement, 29 November 2015

• other statements:

• Joint statement of the EU Heads of State or Government and the leaders of the EU institutions on the terrorist attacks in Brussels

Please note that European Council conclusions are only available in the languages of the countries that were EU member states at the time.