European Council

EU institution

Not to be confused with Council of the European Union or Council of Europe.

European Council

Formation|

* 1961; 63 years ago (1961) (informal)
* 2009; 15 years ago (2009) (formal)

Type| Institution of the European Union
Location|

* Europa building, Brussels

Official language

| 24 languages
2 main official languages

* English
* French

President

| Charles Michel
Website| consilium.europa.eu
This article is part of a series on

Politics of the European Union

Member states (27)

* Austria
* Belgium
* Bulgaria
* Croatia
* Cyprus
* Czech Republic
* Denmark
* Estonia
* Finland
* France
* Germany
* Greece
* Hungary
* Ireland
* Italy
* Latvia
* Lithuania
* Luxembourg
* Malta
* Netherlands
* Poland
* Portugal
* Romania
* Slovakia
* Slovenia
* Spain
* Sweden

* * *

Candidate countries

* Albania
* Bosnia and Herzegovina
* Georgia
* Moldova
* Montenegro
* North Macedonia
* Serbia
* Ukraine

* * *

Countries with suspended accession negotiations

* Turkey

* * *

Applicant countries

* Kosovo

* * *

* Special territories
* Belgium–Germany relations
* France–Germany relations
* Germany–Netherlands relations
* EU 3
* Withdrawal from the European Union

* * *

Treaties and Declarations

* Schuman Declaration (1950)
* Treaty of Paris (1951)
* Europe Declaration (1951)
* Spaak Report (1956)
* Treaty of Rome (1957)
* Euratom Treaty (1957)
* Merger Treaty (1965)
* Solemn Declaration (1983)
* Single European Act (1986)
* Maastricht Treaty (1992)
* Treaty of Amsterdam (1997)
* Treaty of Nice (2001)
* Berlin Declaration (2007)
* Treaty of Lisbon (2007)
* Article 7
* Article 50

* * *

Opt-outs

* * *

Treaties of accession

1972, 1979, 1985, 1994, 2003, 2005, 2011

* * *

Treaties of succession

1984, 2020

* * *

Other treaties

* Schengen Agreement (1985)
* European Economic Area Agreement (1992)

* * *

Abandoned treaties and agreements

* European Constitution (2004)
* UK membership renegotiation (2015–2016)

Executive institutions

European Council

* President: Michel (ALDE)
* Parties
* List of meetings

* * *

European Commission

* Von der Leyen Commission
* President: Von der Leyen (EPP)
* Vice Presidents
* College of Commissioners
* Civil Service
* Secretary-General:  Juhansone

Legislative institutions

* Legislative procedure

* * *

Council of the EU

Presidency

Hungary

(July–December 2024)

* * *

Configurations

* GAC
* FAC
* ECOFIN
* Eurogroup
* AGRIFISH
* EPSCO
* COMPET
* TTE
* ENVI
* JHA
* EYC

* * *

* Voting
* Secretariat
* Secretary-General: Thérèse Blanchet
* Directorates-general
* Council preparatory bodies
* COREPER
* Council Working Parties

* * *

European Parliament
(Members)

* President: Metsola
* Largest groups
* EPP (Manfred Weber)
* S&D (Iratxe García)
* Member of the European Parliament
* 9th session (2019–2024)
* Bureau
* Vice Presidents
* Quaestor
* Conference

* * *

National parliaments

Judicial institutions

Court of Justice of the EU

* European Court of Justice
* Members
* Advocates General
* Rulings
* General Court

Auditory institutions

European Court of Auditors

* European Court of Auditors

* * *

Other auditory bodies

* Internal Audit Service of the Commission
* Committee on Budgetary Control of the Parliament
* Economic and Financial Affairs configuration of the Council
* Anti-Fraud Office
* Public Prosecutor's Office

European Central Bank

* President Lagarde
* ESCB
* EMU
* Euro banknotes
* Euro coins

Other bodies

European Investment Bank Group

* Investment Bank
* Investment Fund
* EIB Institute

* * *

European Stability Mechanism

* European Stability Mechanism

* * *

European University Institute

* European University Institute

* * *

Unified Patent Court

* Unified Patent Court

* * *

Agencies, decentralised independent bodies and joint undertakings

* Decentralised agencies of the EU
* Single market agencies
* CFSP agencies
* AFSC agencies
* ESFS European Supervisory Authorities
* SRM bodies
* Executive agencies of the EU
* Euratom agencies
* Decentralised independent bodies of the EU
* European Institute of Innovation and Technology
* European Public Prosecutor's Office
* Corporate bodies of the EU
* European Data Protection Board
* Authority for European Political Parties and European Political Foundations
* Joint undertakings
* of the EU
* of the Euratom

* * *

Other independent bodies

* European Data Protection Supervisor
* European Ombudsman

* * *

Advisory bodies

* European Committee of the Regions
* European Economic and Social Committee
* Political and Security Committee
* European Union Military Committee
* EU/ESA Space Council

* * *

Inter-institutional bodies

* Publications Office of the European Union
* European External Action Service
* European Personnel Selection Office
* Anti-Fraud Office
* European Administrative School

Euratom

Euratom members

* Austria
* Belgium
* Bulgaria
* Croatia
* Cyprus
* Czech Republic
* Denmark
* Estonia
* Finland
* France
* Germany
* Greece
* Hungary
* Ireland
* Italy
* Latvia
* Lithuania
* Luxembourg
* Malta
* Netherlands
* Poland
* Portugal
* Romania
* Slovakia
* Slovenia
* Spain
* Sweden

* * *

Associated states

* Switzerland
* United Kingdom

* * *

* Nuclear power in the European Union

Euratom since 1 January 2021

Economic and Monetary Union

Eurozone members

* Austria
* Belgium
* Croatia
* Cyprus
* Estonia
* Finland
* France
* Germany
* Greece
* Ireland
* Italy
* Latvia
* Lithuania
* Luxembourg
* Malta
* Netherlands
* Portugal
* Slovakia
* Slovenia
* Spain

* * *

Eurogroup

* President
* Paschal Donohoe

* * *

Other currencies in use

* Bulgarian lev
* Czech koruna
* Danish krone
* Hungarian forint
* Polish złoty
* Romanian leu
* Swedish krona

* * *

* ERM II
* Enlargement of the eurozone

* * *

Non Euro countries relationship to Euro

* Bulgaria
* Czechia
* Denmark
* Hungary
* Poland
* Sweden
* Romania

Eurozone since 2015

Schengen Area

* Austria
* Belgium
* Bulgaria
* Croatia
* Czech Republic
* Denmark
* Estonia
* Finland
* France
* Germany
* Greece
* Hungary
* Italy
* Latvia
* Lithuania
* Luxembourg
* Malta
* Netherlands
* Poland
* Portugal
* Romania
* Slovakia
* Slovenia
* Spain
* Sweden

* * *

Non-EU members

* Iceland
* Liechtenstein
* Norway
* Switzerland

* * *

* Prüm Convention
* Schengen Information System
* Visa Information System
* Visa policy of the Schengen Area

* * *

Non-Schengen area EU member states

* Cyprus
* Ireland (Opt-out)

Schengen Area from January 2023

European Economic Area

EEA members

* Austria
* Belgium
* Bulgaria
* Croatia (provisional member)
* Cyprus
* Czech Republic
* Denmark
* Estonia
* Finland
* France
* Germany
* Greece
* Hungary
* Ireland
* Italy
* Latvia
* Lithuania
* Luxembourg
* Malta
* Netherlands
* Poland
* Portugal
* Romania
* Slovakia
* Slovenia
* Spain
* Sweden

* * *

Non-EU members

* Iceland
* Liechtenstein
* Norway

* * *

Topics

* EEA Joint Committee
* EEA National Identity cards
* Microstates and the European Union

European Economic Area

Elections

* Elections to the European Parliament
* European parties
* European foundations
* Political groups of the European Parliament
* Spitzenkandidat
* Constituencies
* Apportionment
* Referendums related to the EU

* * *

European elections

* 1979
* 1984
* 1989
* 1994
* 1999
* 2004
* 2009
* 2014
* 2019
* 2024 (latest election)

* * *

Elections in EU member states

* Austria
* Belgium
* Bulgaria
* Croatia
* Cyprus
* Czech Republic
* Denmark
* Estonia
* Finland
* France
* Germany
* Greece
* Hungary
* Ireland
* Italy
* Latvia
* Lithuania
* Luxembourg
* Malta
* Netherlands
* Poland
* Portugal
* Romania
* Slovakia
* Slovenia
* Spain
* Sweden

Law

* Acquis
* Primacy (ECJ Case 6/64)
* Subsidiarity
* Regulation
* Directive
* Decision
* Recommendation
* Fundamental Rights

Policies and issues

* Budget
* Customs Union
* Free Trade Agreements
* European Single Market
* Area of FS&J
* Policies
* Agricultural
* Energy
* Fisheries
* Regional
* Citizenship
* Passports of the European Union
* Identity
* Pro-Europeanism
* Euroscepticism
* European banking union
* European Banking Supervision
* Single Resolution Mechanism
* Capital Markets Union
* European System of Financial Supervision
* Integration
* Supranationalism
* European Federation
* Multi-speed Europe
* Enhanced cooperation

Foreign relations

High Representative

* Josep Borrell

* * *

* Ext. Action Service
* Foreign Policy
* Defence Policy

* * *

Foreign relations of EU member states

* Austria
* Belgium
* Bulgaria
* Croatia
* Cyprus
* Czech Republic
* Denmark
* Estonia
* Finland
* France
* Germany
* Greece
* Hungary
* Ireland
* Italy
* Latvia
* Lithuania
* Luxembourg
* Malta
* Netherlands
* Poland
* Portugal
* Romania
* Slovakia
* Slovenia
* Spain
* Sweden

* * *

* Argentina–European Union relations
* Armenia–European Union relations
* Australia–European Union relations
* Brazil–European Union relations
* Canada–European Union relations
* China–European Union relations
* European Union–NATO relations
* Georgia–European Union relations
* Iceland–European Union relations
* Kazakhstan–European Union relations
* Japan–European Union relations
* Mexico–European Union relations
* Moldova–European Union relations
* Norway–European Union relations
* Russia–European Union relations
* Switzerland–European Union relations
* Turkey–European Union relations
* Ukraine–European Union relations
* United Kingdom–European Union relations (History)
* Post-Brexit United Kingdom relations with the European Union
* Brexit
* United States–European Union relations

* * *

* Common Travel Area (Ireland)
* Microstates and the European Union
* European Union and the United Nations
* European Union Association Agreement

* * *

* G7
* G20

Defunct bodies

* European Communities (1958–1993)

European Coal and Steel Community
European Economic Community
* European Community
* Western European Union
* Convention on the Future of Europe

European Union portal

* Other countries

* v
* t
* e

The European Council (informally EUCO) is a collegiate body (directorial system) that defines the overall political direction and priorities of the European Union. The European Council is part of the executive of the European Union (EU), beside the European Commission. It is composed of the heads of state or of government of the EU member states, the President of the European Council, and the President of the European Commission. The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy also takes part in its meetings.[1]

Established as an informal summit in 1975, the European Council was formalised as an institution in 2009 upon the commencement of the Treaty of Lisbon. Its current president is Charles Michel, former Prime Minister of Belgium.

## Scope

[edit]

While the European Council has no legislative power, it is a strategic (and crisis-solving) body that provides the union with general political directions and priorities, and acts as a collective presidency. The European Commission remains the sole initiator of legislation, but the European Council provides a guide to legislative policy.[2][3]

The meetings of the European Council, still commonly referred to as EU summits, are chaired by its president and take place at least twice every six months;[1] usually in the Europa building in Brussels.[4][5] Decisions of the European Council are taken by consensus, except where the Treaties provide otherwise.[6]

## History

[edit]

Further information: List of European Council meetings

The European Council officially gained the status of an EU institution after the Treaty of Lisbon in 2007, distinct from the Council of the European Union (Council of Ministers). Before that, the first summits of EU heads of state or government were held in February and July 1961 (in Paris and Bonn respectively). They were informal summits of the leaders of the European Community, and were started due to then-French President Charles de Gaulle's resentment at the domination of supranational institutions (notably the European Commission) over the integration process, but petered out. The first influential summit held, after the departure of de Gaulle, was the Hague summit of 1969, which reached an agreement on the admittance of the United Kingdom into the Community and initiated foreign policy cooperation (the European Political Cooperation) taking integration beyond economics.[1][7]

A traditional group photo, here taken at the royal palace in Brussels during Belgium's 1987 presidency of the Council of the European Union

The summits were only formalised in the period between 1974 and 1988. At the December summit in Paris in 1974, following a proposal from then-French president Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, it was agreed that more high-level, political input was needed following the "empty chair crisis" and economic problems.[8] The inaugural European Council, as it became known, was held in Dublin on 10 and 11 March 1975 during Ireland's first Presidency of the Council of Ministers. In 1987, it was included in the treaties for the first time (the Single European Act) and had a defined role for the first time in the Maastricht Treaty. At first only a minimum of two meetings per year were required, which resulted in an average of three meetings per year being held for the 1975–1995 period. Since 1996, the number of meetings were required to be minimum four per year. For the latest 2008–2014 period, this minimum was well exceeded, by an average of seven meetings being held per year. The seat of the Council was formalised in 2002, basing it in Brussels. Three types of European Councils exist: Informal, Scheduled and Extraordinary. While the informal meetings are also scheduled 1½ years in advance, they differ from the scheduled ordinary meetings by not ending with official Council conclusions, as they instead end by more broad political Statements on some cherry-picked policy matters. The extraordinary meetings always end with official Council conclusions but differ from the scheduled meetings by not being scheduled more than a year in advance, as for example in 2001 when the European Council gathered to lead the European Union's response to the 11 September attacks.[1][7]

Some meetings of the European Council—and, before the European Council was formalised, meetings of the heads of government—are seen by some as turning points in the history of the European Union. For example:[1]

* 1969, The Hague: Foreign policy and enlargement.
* 1974, Paris: Creation of the council.
* 1985, Milan: Initiate IGC leading to the Single European Act.

Press conference with European Commissioner Jacques Delors and Dutch ministers Wim Kok, Hans van den Broek and Ruud Lubbers, after the European Council of 9–10 December 1991 in Maastricht, which led to the Maastricht Treaty (1992)

* 1991, Maastricht: Agreement on the Maastricht Treaty.
* 1992, Edinburgh: Agreement (by treaty provision) to retain at Strasbourg the plenary seat of the European Parliament.
* 1993, Copenhagen: Leading to the definition of the Copenhagen Criteria.
* 1997, Amsterdam: Agreement on the Amsterdam Treaty.
* 1998, Brussels: Selected member states to adopt the euro.
* 1999; Cologne: Declaration on military forces.[9]
* 1999, Tampere: Institutional reform
* 2000, Lisbon: Lisbon Strategy
* 2002, Copenhagen: Agreement for May 2004 enlargement.
* 2007, Lisbon: Agreement on the Lisbon Treaty.
* 2009, Brussels: Appointment of first president and merged High Representative.
* 2010, European Financial Stability Facility

As such, the European Council had already existed before it gained the status as an institution of the European Union with the entering into force of the Treaty of Lisbon, but even after it had been mentioned in the treaties (since the Single European Act) it could only take political decisions, not formal legal acts. However, when necessary, the Heads of State or Government could also meet as the Council of Ministers and take formal decisions in that role. Sometimes, this was even compulsory, e.g. Article 214(2) of the Treaty establishing the European Community provided (before it was amended by the Treaty of Lisbon) that ‘the Council, meeting in the composition of Heads of State or Government and acting by a qualified majority, shall nominate the person it intends to appoint as President of the Commission’ (emphasis added); the same rule applied in some monetary policy provisions introduced by the Maastricht Treaty (e.g. Article 109j TEC). In that case, what was politically part of a European Council meeting was legally a meeting of the Council of Ministers. When the European Council, already introduced into the treaties by the Single European Act, became an institution by virtue of the Treaty of Lisbon, this was no longer necessary, and the "Council [of the European Union] meeting in the composition of the Heads of State or Government", was replaced in these instances by the European Council now taking formal legally binding decisions in these cases (Article 15 of the Treaty on European Union).[10]

The Treaty of Lisbon made the European Council a formal institution distinct from the (ordinary) Council of the EU, and created the present longer term and full-time presidency. As an outgrowth of the Council of the EU, the European Council had previously followed the same Presidency, rotating between each member state. While the Council of the EU retains that system, the European Council established, with no change in powers, a system of appointing an individual (without them being a national leader) for a two-and-a-half-year term—which can be renewed for the same person only once.[11] Following the ratification of the treaty in December 2009, the European Council elected the then-Prime Minister of Belgium Herman Van Rompuy as its first permanent president; he resigned the prime ministerial position.[12]

## Powers and functions

[edit]

The European Council is an official institution of the EU, described in the Lisbon Treaty as a body which "shall provide the Union with the necessary impetus for its development". Essentially it defines the EU's policy agenda and has thus been considered to be the motor of European integration.[1] Beyond the need to provide "impetus", the council has developed further roles: to "settle issues outstanding from discussions at a lower level", to lead in foreign policy — acting externally as a "collective Head of State", "formal ratification of important documents" and "involvement in the negotiation of the treaty changes".[4][7]

Since the institution is composed of national leaders, it gathers the executive power of the member states and has thus a great influence in high-profile policy areas as for example foreign policy. It also exercises powers of appointment, such as appointment of its own President, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and the President of the European Central Bank. It proposes, to the European Parliament, a candidate for President of the European Commission. Moreover, the European Council influences police and justice planning, the composition of the commission, matters relating to the organisation of the rotating Council presidency, the suspension of membership rights, and changing the voting systems through the Passerelle Clause. Although the European Council has no direct legislative power, under the "emergency brake" procedure, a state outvoted in the Council of Ministers may refer contentious legislation to the European Council. However, the state may still be outvoted in the European Council.[11][13][14] Hence with powers over the supranational executive of the EU, in addition to its other powers, the European Council has been described by some as the Union's "supreme political authority".[4][7][11][15]

## Composition

[edit]

The European Council consists of the heads of state or government of the member states, alongside its own President and the Commission President (both non-voting). The meetings used to be regularly attended by the national foreign minister as well, and the Commission President likewise accompanied by another member of the commission. However, since the Treaty of Lisbon, this has been discontinued, as the size of the body had become somewhat large following successive accessions of new Member States to the Union.[1][4] Meetings can also include other invitees, such as the President of the European Central Bank, as required. The Secretary-General of the Council attends, and is responsible for organisational matters, including minutes. The President of the European Parliament also attends to give an opening speech outlining the European Parliament's position before talks begin.[1][4]

Additionally, the negotiations involve a large number of other people working behind the scenes. Most of those people, however, are not allowed to the conference room, except for two delegates per state to relay messages. At the push of a button members can also call for advice from a Permanent Representative via the "Antici Group" in an adjacent room. The group is composed of diplomats and assistants who convey information and requests. Interpreters are also required for meetings as members are permitted to speak in their own languages.[1]

As the composition is not precisely defined, some states which have a considerable division of executive power can find it difficult to decide who should attend the meetings. While an MEP, Alexander Stubb argued that there was no need for the President of Finland to attend Council meetings with or instead of the Prime Minister of Finland (who was head of European foreign policy).[16] In 2008, having become Finnish Foreign Minister, Stubb was forced out of the Finnish delegation to the emergency council meeting on the Georgian crisis because the President wanted to attend the high-profile summit as well as the Prime Minister (only two people from each country could attend the meetings).[citation needed] This was despite Stubb being Chair-in-Office of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe at the time which was heavily involved in the crisis. Problems also occurred in Poland where the President of Poland and the Prime Minister of Poland were of different parties and had a different foreign policy response to the crisis.[17] A similar situation arose in Romania between President Traian Băsescu and Prime Minister Călin Popescu-Tăriceanu in 2007–2008 and again in 2012 with Prime Minister Victor Ponta, who both opposed the president.[citation needed]

### Eurozone summits

[edit]

Main article: Euro summit

A number of ad hoc meetings of heads of state or government of the member states of the euro area were held in 2010 and 2011 to discuss the Sovereign Debt crisis. It was agreed in October 2011 that they should meet regularly twice a year (with extra meetings if needed). This will normally be at the end of a European Council meeting and according to the same format (chaired by the President of the European Council and including the President of the Commission), but usually restricted to the (currently 20) heads of state or government of the member states of the eurozone.[citation needed]

### President

[edit]

Main article: President of the European Council

The President of the European Council is elected by its members through a qualified majority vote for a once-renewable term of two and a half years. Article 15 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU) identifies his duties. It is the Heads of State or Government who vote for this office.[18] The President must report to the European Parliament after each European Council meeting.[4][15] The post was created by the Treaty of Lisbon and was subject to a debate over its exact role. Prior to Lisbon, the Presidency rotated in accordance with the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.[4][15] The role of that President-in-Office was in no sense (other than protocol) equivalent to an office of a head of state, merely a primus inter pares (first among equals) role among other European heads of government. The President-in-Office was primarily responsible for preparing and chairing the Council meetings, and had no executive powers other than the task of representing the Union externally. Now the leader of the Council Presidency country can still act as president when the permanent president is absent.[citation needed]

### Members

[edit]

Further information: List of members of the European Council

State  | Member  |  | State  | Member  |  | State  | Member

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

European Union
(non-voting)

Member since
1 December 2019[a] |  |
President of the
European Council
Charles Michel
(Renew – MR) |

European Union
(non-voting)

Member since
1 December 2019 |  |
President of the
European Commission
Ursula von der Leyen
(EPP – CDU) |

Republic of Austria

Member since
6 December 2021 |  |
Chancellor
Karl Nehammer
(EPP – ÖVP)

Kingdom of Belgium

Member since
1 October 2020 |  |
Prime Minister
Alexander De Croo
(Renew – Open Vld) |

Republic of Bulgaria

Member since
9 April 2024 |  |
Prime Minister
Dimitar Glavchev
(Independent) |

Republic of Croatia

Member since
19 October 2016 |  |
Prime Minister
Andrej Plenković
(EPP – HDZ)

Republic of Cyprus

Member since
28 February 2023 |  |
President
Nikos Christodoulides
(Independent) |

Czech Republic

Member since
17 December 2021 |  |
Prime Minister
Petr Fiala
(ECR – ODS) |

Denmark

Member since
27 June 2019 |  |
Prime Minister
Mette Frederiksen
(S&D – S)

Republic of Estonia

Member since
23 July 2024 |  |
Prime Minister
Kristen Michal
(Renew – ER) |

Republic of Finland

Member since
20 June 2023 |  |
Prime Minister
Petteri Orpo
(EPP – Kok.) |

French Republic

Member since
14 May 2017 |  |
President
Emmanuel Macron
(Renew – RE)

Federal Republic of Germany

Member since
8 December 2021 |  |
Chancellor
Olaf Scholz
(S&D – SPD) |

Hellenic Republic

Member since
26 June 2023[b] |  |
Prime Minister
Kyriakos Mitsotakis
(EPP – ND) |

Hungary

Member since
29 May 2010 |  |
Prime Minister
Viktor Orbán
(Patriots – Fidesz)

Ireland

Member since
9 April 2024 |  |
Taoiseach
Simon Harris
(EPP – FG) |

Italian Republic

Member since
22 October 2022 |  |
Prime Minister
Giorgia Meloni
(ECR – FdI) |

Republic of Latvia

Member since
15 September 2023 |  |
Prime Minister
Evika Siliņa
(EPP – V)

Republic of Lithuania

Member since
12 July 2019 |  |
President
Gitanas Nausėda
(Independent) |

Grand Duchy of Luxembourg

Member since
17 November 2023 |  |
Prime Minister
Luc Frieden
(EPP – CSV) |

Republic of Malta

Member since
13 January 2020 |  |
Prime Minister
Robert Abela
(S&D – PL)

Netherlands

Member since
2 July 2024 |  |
Prime Minister
Dick Schoof
(Independent) |

Republic of Poland

Member since
13 December 2023[c] |  |
Prime Minister
Donald Tusk
(EPP – PO) |

Portuguese Republic

Member since
2 April 2024 |  |
Prime Minister
Luís Montenegro
(EPP – PSD)

Romania

Member since
21 December 2014 |  |
President
Klaus Iohannis
(EPP – PNL)[d] |

Slovak Republic

Member since
25 October 2023[e] |  |
Prime Minister
Robert Fico
(Una. – Smer) |

Republic of Slovenia

Member since
1 June 2022 |  |
Prime Minister
Robert Golob
(Renew – GS)

Kingdom of Spain

Member since
2 June 2018 |  |
Prime Minister
Pedro Sánchez
(S&D – PSOE) |

Kingdom of Sweden

Member since
18 October 2022 |  |
Prime Minister
Ulf Kristersson
(EPP – M)

Notes

1. ^ Michel had already been a member of the Council from October 2014 to October 2019 as Prime Minister of Belgium.
2. ^ Mitsotakis had already been Prime Minister, and therefore a member of the Council, from July 2019 to May 2023.
3. ^ Tusk had already been a member of the Council from November 2007 to September 2014 as Prime Minister, and from December 2014 to November 2019 as its President.
4. ^ Membership in PNL is formally suspended while in office.
5. ^ Fico had already been Prime Minister, and therefore a member of the Council, from July 2006 to July 2010 and from April 2012 to March 2018.

### Political alliances

[edit]

European political affiliation of the current members of the European Council

Almost all members of the European Council are members of a political party at the national level. Most of them are also members of political alliances at the European level such as European political parties and political groups of the European Parliament.

These alliances frequently hold pre-meetings with their European Council members, prior to their meetings. However, the members of the European Council represent their member states rather than political alliances, and decisions are generally made along national lines, though ideological alignment can colour political agreements and appointments (such as the president of the European Council).[19]

The charts below outline the number of leaders affiliated to each alliance and their total voting weight. The map indicates the political group of the member representing each individual country.

| Number of members by political group[20]

|  |
EPP |

| 11 (40.7%)
S&D |

| 4 (14.8%)
Renew |

| 4 (14.8%)
Ind. |

| 4 (14.8%)
ECR |

| 2 ( 7.4%)
Patriots |

| 1 ( 3.7%)
Una. |

| 1 ( 3.7%)

| Share of population by political group[20][21]

|  |
S&D |

| 0 (30.6%)
EPP |

| 25.6%)
Renew |

| 18.4%)
ECR |

| 15.7%)
Ind. |

| 6.3%)
Patriots |

| 2.2%)
Una. |

| 1.2%)

| Number of members by European political party[26]

|  |
EPP |

| 11 (40.7%)
PES |

| 4 (14.8%)
Una. |

| 4 (14.8%)
Ind. |

| 4 (14.8%)
ALDE |

| 2 (7.4%)
ECR |

| 2 (7.4%)

### Members timeline

[edit]

## Seat and meetings

[edit]

Further information: List of European Councils, Location of European Union institutions, and Europa building

The European Council is required by Article 15.3 TEU to meet at least twice every six months, but convenes more frequently in practice.[27][28] Despite efforts to contain business, meetings typically last for at least two days, and run long into the night.[28]

Until 2002, the venue for European Council summits was the member state that held the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union. However, European leaders agreed during ratification of the Nice Treaty to forego this arrangement at such a time as the total membership of the European Union surpassed 18 member states.[29] An advanced implementation of this agreement occurred in 2002, with certain states agreeing to waive their right to host meetings, favouring Brussels as the location.[30] Following the growth of the EU to 25 member states, with the 2004 enlargement, all subsequent official summits of the European Council have been in Brussels, with the exception of punctuated ad hoc meetings, such as the 2017 informal European Council in Malta.[31] The logistical, environmental, financial and security arrangements of hosting large summits are usually cited as the primary factors in the decision by EU leaders to move towards a permanent seat for the European Council.[7] Additionally, some scholars argue that the move, when coupled with the formalisation of the European Council in the Lisbon Treaty, represents an institutionalisation of an ad hoc EU organ that had its origins in Luxembourg compromise, with national leaders reasserting their dominance as the EU's "supreme political authority".[7]

Originally, both the European Council and the Council of the European Union utilised the Justus Lipsius building as their Brussels venue. In order to make room for additional meeting space a number of renovations were made, including the conversion of an underground carpark into additional press briefing rooms.[32] However, in 2004 leaders decided the logistical problems created by the outdated facilities warranted the construction of a new purpose built seat able to cope with the nearly 6,000 meetings, working groups, and summits per year.[5] This resulted in the Europa building, which opened its doors in 2017. The focal point of the new building, the distinctive multi-storey "lantern-shaped" structure in which the main meeting room is located, is utilised in both the European Council's and Council of the European Union's official logos.[33]

## Role in security and defence

[edit]

Further information: Command and control structure of the European Union

The EU command and control (C2) structure is directed by political bodies composed of member states' representatives, and generally requires unanimous decisions. As of April 2019:[34]

Liaison: Advice and recommendations Support and monitoring Preparatory work

* v
* t
* e

Political strategic level:[5]

ISS| | | | | | | EUCO Pres. (EUCO)| | | | Chain of command

| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Coordination/support
SatCen| | | CIVCOM| | | HR/VP (FAC)

| | | | | | | | | | | |
INTCEN| | | HR/VP (PMG)| | | HR/VP (PSC)[6]| |

CEUMC (EUMC)
| |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
CMPD| | | | | | | | | | | |

DGEUMS[3] (EUMS)
| | | | | | | | |
Military/civilian strategic level:| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | |

Dir MPCC[3] (MPCC)| | JSCC| | Civ OpCdr CPCC[1]

Operational level:| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | MFCdr[4] (MFHQ)| | | | | | HoM[1]
| | | |
Tactical level:| | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
CC[2] Land| | CC[2] Air| | CC[2] Mar| | Other CCs[2]
| |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Forces| | Forces| | Forces| | Forces
| |

1 In the event of a CSDP Civilian Mission also being in the field, the relations with the Civilian Planning and Conduct Capability (CPCC) and its Civilian Operation Commander (Civ OpCdr), as well as the subordinate Head of Mission (HoM), are coordinated as shown.

2 Other Component Commanders (CCs) and service branches which may be established.

3 The MPCC is part of the EUMS and Dir MPCC is double-hatted as DGEUMS. Unless the MPCC is used as Operation Headquarters (OHQ), either a national OHQ offered by member states or the NATO Command Structure (NCS) would serve this purpose. In the latter instance, Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe (DSACEUR), rather than Dir MPCC, would serve as Operation Commander (OpCdr).

4 Unless the MPCC is used as Operation Headquarters (OHQ), the MFCdr would be known as a Force Commander (FCdr), and direct a Force Headquarters (FHQ) rather than a MFHQ. Whereas the MFHQ would act both on the operational and tactical level, the FHQ would act purely on the operational level.

5 The political strategic level is not part of the C2 structure per se, but represents the political bodies, with associated support facilities, that determine the missions' general direction. The Council determines the role of the High Representative (HR/VP), who serves as Vice-President of the European Commission, attends European Council meetings, chairs the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) and may chair the Political and Security Committee (PSC) in times of crisis. The HR/VP proposes and implements CSDP decisions.

6 Same composition as Committee of Permanent Representatives (COREPER) II, which also prepares for the CSDP-related work of the FAC.

## See also

[edit]

* Laeken indicators
* Euro summit
* Presidency of the Council of the European Union
* List of members of the European Council

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Consolidated versions of the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty on the functioning of the European Union" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 August 2017. Retrieved 2 December 2009.
2. ^ Art. 13 et seq of the Treaty on European Union
3. ^ Gilbert, Mark (2003). Surpassing Realism – The Politics of European Integration since 1945. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 219\. ISBN 9780742519145.
4. ^ a b c d e f g "EUROPA – The European Council: Presidency Conclusions". European Commission. Retrieved 11 December 2011.
5. ^ a b "EUROPA : Home of the European Council and the Council of the EU – Consilium". www.consilium.europa.eu. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
6. ^ Art. 15(4) of the Treaty on European Union
7. ^ a b c d e f Stark, Christine. "Evolution of the European Council: The implications of a permanent seat" (PDF). Dragoman.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 July 2007. Retrieved 12 July 2007.
8. ^ Imbrogno, Anthony F. (18 September 2016). "The founding of the European Council: economic reform and the mechanism of continuous negotiation". Journal of European Integration. 38 (6): 719–736. doi:10.1080/07036337.2016.1188925. S2CID 156950352 - via Taylor and Francis+NEJM.
9. ^ "EU Security Policy & the role of the European Commission". European Commission. Archived from the original on 22 October 2007. Retrieved 22 August 2007.
10. ^ Wikisource: Article 2(3)(e), Treaty of Lisbon
11. ^ a b c "The Union's institutions: The European Council". Europa (web portal). 21 February 2001. Archived from the original on 21 December 2009. Retrieved 12 July 2007.
12. ^ "Belgian PM Van Rompuy is named as new EU president". BBC News. 20 November 2009. Retrieved 20 November 2009.
13. ^ Peers, Steve (2 August 2007). "EU Reform Treaty Analysis no. 2.2: Foreign policy provisions of the revised text of the Treaty on the European Union (TEU)" (PDF). Statewatch. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 October 2007. Retrieved 26 September 2007.
14. ^ Peers, Steve (2 August 2007). "EU Reform Treaty analysis 1: JHA provisions" (PDF). Statewatch. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 October 2007. Retrieved 26 September 2007.
15. ^ a b c How does the EU work. Europa (web portal). 2012. ISBN 9789279205125. Retrieved 12 July 2007.
16. ^ "Finnish Conservatives name Stubb foreign minister". new Room Finland. 1 April 2008. Archived from the original on 16 January 2009. Retrieved 1 April 2008.
17. ^ Phillips, Leigh (29 August 2008). "Spats over who gets to go to EU summit break out in Poland, Finland". EU Observer. Retrieved 1 September 2008.
18. ^ "European Council: The President's role". Retrieved 21 March 2015. "The President the European Council is elected by the European Council by a qualified majority. He is elected for a 2.5-year term, which is renewable once."
19. ^ Drachenberg, Ralf (2022). "European political parties and the European Council: A pattern of ever closer coordination?". European Parliamentary Research Service. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
20. ^ a b "Current membership of the European Council".
21. ^ Council Decision (EU, Euratom) 2021/2320 of 22 December 2021 amending the Council's Rules of Procedure (Decision 2021/2320). Council of the European Union. 22 December 2021.
22. ^ "EPP - European People's Party - Parties & partners". EPP. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
23. ^ "Leadership - The Party of European Socialists". PES. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
24. ^ "Leadership - ALDE Party". ALDE Party. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
25. ^ "About - ECR Party". ECR Party. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
26. ^ [22][23][24][25]
27. ^ "Consolidated version of the Treaty on European Union" - via Wikisource.
28. ^ a b "The European Council – the who, what, where, how and why – UK in a changing Europe". ukandeu.ac.uk. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
29. ^ "Treaty of Nice" - via Wikisource.
30. ^ "Permanent seat for the European Council could change the EU's nature". EURACTIV.com. 18 September 2002. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
31. ^ "Informal meeting of EU heads of state or government, Malta, 03/02/2017 – Consilium". www.consilium.europa.eu. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
32. ^ "Why PMs won't miss going to EU Council summits". Sky News. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
33. ^ "New HQ, new logo". POLITICO. 15 January 2014. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
34. ^ EU Command and Control, p. 13, Military Staff

## Further reading

[edit]

* Wessels, Wolfgang (2016). The European Council. Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 978-0333587461.

## External links

[edit]

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* Access to documents of the European Council on EUR-Lex
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*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template
*[Una.]: Unaffiliated
*[Dir MPCC]: Director of the Military Planning and Conduct Capability
*[MPCC]: Military Planning and Conduct Capability
*[JSCC]: Joint Support Coordination Cell
*[Civ OpCdr]: Civilian Operations Commander
*[CPCC]: Civilian Planning and Conduct Capability
*[MFCdr]: Mission Force Commander
*[MFHQ]: Mission Force Headquarters
*[HoM]: Head of Mission
*[CC]: Component Commander