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European Council

The European Council in Luxembourg (Photo: European Commission)

The regular meeting of the heads of state and government of the EU member states. These Presidents and Prime Ministers, together with the President of the EU Commission, meet at least twice, and on average four times, a year to fix the general political guidelines for the EU (Art. 4 TEU). Foreign Affairs and other ministers may attend by invitation.

The Lisbon Treaty has established the European Council as an official EU institution through the new Article 15 TEU.

The summit meetings have already been called the European Council since 1974. It was first mentioned in primary law in the TEU (Maastricht).

As an official EU institution its acts or its “failing to act” is now subject to review by the Court of Justice.

Lisbon also provides that the European Council will have a permanent President for up to 2.5 years renewable once, see Art.15.5 TEU.

Notes

• The European Council was first recognised in a treaty by the Single European Act (1986).
• The Nice summit of December 2000 determined that all EU summits will take place in Brussels.
• European Council meetings are hosted by the country currently holding the Presidency (this rotates every six months).
• The European Council decides by consensus
  

Links

Council of the European Union http://ue.eu.int/

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