The European Council brings together the heads of state or government of the EU member states, together with its own President and the President of the European Commission, to set the Union's overall political direction and priorities; unlike the Council of the European Union, it does not itself legislate. Heads of state or government had met periodically as informal summits from 1961, but at a summit in Paris on 9 and 10 December 1974, at French President Valery Giscard d'Estaing's initiative, they agreed to meet regularly under the name European Council; the new body held its first meeting under that name in Dublin in March 1975. It remained an informal forum until the Treaty of Lisbon made it a formal EU institution on 1 December 2009.
Facts
Founded Year Founded DateDate of the Paris summit at which the heads of state or government agreed to meet regularly as the European Council. The first meeting actually held under that name was in Dublin, March 1975; formal EU institution status came only with the Treaty of Lisbon, 1 December 2009. HeadquartersBrussels, Belgium (Europa building) 1 Classification
Institution TypeInternational or Intergovernmental Body 1 FAQs
What is the difference between the European Council and the Council of the European Union?
The European Council sets direction through heads of state or government; the Council of the EU legislates through ministers.
The European Council brings together the heads of state or government of the EU member states to set the Union's overall political direction; it does not legislate. The Council of the European Union (sometimes called the Council of Ministers) brings together one minister from each member state, in ten policy configurations, to negotiate and adopt EU law jointly with the European Parliament. The two share a Brussels headquarters (the Europa building) but trace to different origins: the Council of the EU dates to the 1965 Merger Treaty, in force from 1 July 1967, while the European Council grew out of informal leaders' summits and only became a formal EU institution under the Treaty of Lisbon, 1 December 2009.
Connections
Associated With
Distinct, frequently confused EU institutions: the European Council sets political direction through heads of state or government, while the Council of the EU legislates through ministers.
Created the permanent President of the European Council.
Source Treaty of Lisbon (Wikipedia)
Influenced By
Gave the European Council formal EU institution status, 1 December 2009.
Sources
1. European Council (Wikipedia)
WikipediaInstitution type, descriptionQuote, Institution type, description
The European Council brings together the heads of state or government of the EU member states, together with its own President and the President of the European Commission, to set the Union's overall political direction and priorities; unlike the Council of the European Union, it does not itself legislate.
Treaty of Lisbon (Wikipedia)
European Union: European Council
European UnionIn Group: The European Union and Its Governing Institutions, Page textQuote, In Group: The European Union and Its Governing Institutions, Page text
The European Council brings together EU leaders to set the EU's political agenda . It represents the highest level of political cooperation between EU countries.
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