European Council

European Council. The European Council is the highest political body of the European Union, responsible for defining the bloc's general political direction and priorities. It brings together the leaders of the member states, the President of the European Commission, and its own President to address major challenges and steer the EU's strategic agenda. Its decisions, often reached by consensus, have profound implications for the Union's development, from economic governance to foreign policy.

History and development

The origins of the European Council lie in the informal "summit conferences" of the 1960s, such as those held in The Hague in 1969. It was formally established in 1974 on the initiative of French President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, seeking a forum for strategic discussion beyond the European Commission and the Council of the European Union. The Single European Act of 1986 first acknowledged its existence in treaty law, while the Maastricht Treaty of 1992 formally defined its role of providing the European Union with necessary impetus. Its evolution continued with the Treaty of Lisbon in 2009, which designated it a full institution of the Union, created the permanent full-time position of its President, and ended the previous system where the presidency rotated every six months among member states. Key historical moments shaped by its meetings include the decisions on Economic and Monetary Union, the eastern enlargement following the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the responses to crises like the Eurozone crisis and the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Composition and functioning

The European Council consists of the Heads of State or Government of all 27 member states, the President of the European Commission, and its own President. The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy also participates in its work when foreign affairs are discussed. It meets at least four times a year in Brussels, with meetings traditionally referred to as "European summits." Its work is prepared by the General Affairs Council, with the assistance of the Council's General Secretariat and in close coordination with the President of the European Commission. Decisions are generally reached by consensus, though the Treaty of Lisbon provides for specific cases where qualified majority voting applies, such as for certain nominations.

Role and powers

The European Council does not legislate but provides the Union with the necessary political impetus for its development and defines its general political directions and priorities. It deals with complex or sensitive issues that cannot be resolved at lower levels, such as treaty changes, major institutional appointments, and overarching strategic frameworks like the Multiannual Financial Framework. It plays a decisive role in shaping the Common Foreign and Security Policy and in coordinating responses to cross-border crises, from financial stability to migration and security. Furthermore, it issues strategic guidelines for legislative and policy planning to other institutions, notably influencing the agenda of the European Commission and the legislative work of the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament.

Presidency

The President of the European Council is elected by its members for a once-renewable term of two and a half years. The role, established by the Treaty of Lisbon, is held by Charles Michel, who succeeded Herman Van Rompuy and Donald Tusk. The President chairs and drives forward its work, ensures the preparation and continuity of its meetings, and facilitates cohesion and consensus among members. Externally, the President represents the Union on issues concerning its Common Foreign and Security Policy, at the level of heads of state or government, alongside the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. The presidency works in close coordination with the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union.

Relationship with other EU institutions

The European Council holds a unique position, setting the strategic agenda for the entire Union. It nominates the candidate for President of the European Commission, who is then elected by the European Parliament. It also appoints, with the approval of the Commission President, the entire European Commission, as well as the President of the European Central Bank and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. While it does not adopt EU laws, its guidelines are essential for the legislative work undertaken by the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament under the Ordinary legislative procedure. Its decisions on broad economic policy guidelines are implemented by the European Commission and the Eurogroup, particularly for members of the Eurozone.

Category:European Council Category:European Union institutions