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Glossary of summaries

European Council

Since the Treaty of Lisbon, the European Council has been an EU institution. The President of the European Council is elected, by a qualified majority, for a term of two and a half years. In 2019, Charles Michel was elected President of the European Council.

Consisting of the Heads of State or Government of the EU Member States, together with its President and the President of the European Commission, the European Council meets at least 4 times a year. The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy takes part in its work.

The European Council’s role is to provide the impetus, general political directions and priorities for the EU’s development (Article 15 of the Treaty on European Union — TEU), including:

  • identifying the EU’s strategic interests and objectives related to the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and to other areas of EU external action (Articles 22 and 26 TEU);
  • adopting broad guidelines on the economic policies of the Member States and of the EU (Article 121 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU — TFEU) or considering the employment situation in the EU (Article 148);
  • determining the existence of a serious and persistent breach by a Member State of the values of the EU (Article 7(2) TEU).

It does not carry out any legislative function. However, it defines the strategic guidelines for legislative and operational planning within the area of freedom, security and justice (Article 68 TFEU). It may also intervene on social security matters (Article 48 TFEU) or on criminal matters (Articles 82 and 83 TFEU) where a member of the Council, under the conditions set out in the Treaty, requests a draft legislative act to be referred to the European Council.

The European Council may also, unanimously, adopt a decision authorising the Council to act by a qualified majority instead of unanimity when adopting a regulation laying down the multiannual framework (Article 312(2) TFEU). It also adopts decisions regarding the functioning of the Council (Article 236 TFEU) and the composition of the European Parliament (Article 14 TEU).

Its decisions are taken by consensus or, if provided by the treaties, by unanimity, qualified majority or simple majority. The European Council sets the EU’s policy agenda, traditionally by adopting ‘conclusions’ during its meetings which identify issues of concern and actions to take.

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