EU leaders call for a new European competitiveness deal
EU leaders call for a new European competitiveness deal
European Council
The European Council is the EU institution that defines the general political direction and priorities of the European Union.
Members of the European Council
The members of the European Council are the heads of state or government of the 27 EU member states, the European Council President and the President of the European Commission.
Charles Michel
European Council
Karl Nehammer
Austria
Alexander De Croo
Belgium
Dimitar Glavchev
Bulgaria
Andrej Plenković
Croatia
Nikos Christodoulides
Cyprus
Petr Fiala
Czech Republic
Mette Frederiksen
Denmark
Simon Harris
Ireland
Kaja Kallas
Estonia
Petteri Orpo
Finland
Emmanuel Macron
France
Olaf Scholz
Germany
Kyriakos Mitsotakis
Greece
Viktor Orbán
Hungary
Giorgia Meloni
Italy
Evika Siliņa
Latvia
Gitanas Nausėda
Lithuania
Luc Frieden
Luxembourg
Robert Abela
Malta
Mark Rutte
Netherlands
Donald Tusk
Poland
Luís Montenegro
Portugal
Klaus Werner Iohannis
Romania
Robert Fico
Slovakia
Robert Golob
Slovenia
Pedro Sánchez
Spain
Ulf Kristersson
Sweden
Ursula von der Leyen
European Commission
About the European Council
The European Council defines the EU's overall political direction and priorities, traditionally by adopting conclusions. It does not negotiate or adopt EU laws.
European Council conclusions
European Council conclusions
Charles Michel, President of the European Council
Charles Michel, President of the European Council
Role in nominations and appointments
Role in nominations and appointments
How the European Council works
How the European Council works
EU Strategic agenda 2024-2029
EU Strategic agenda 2024-2029
Euro summit
Euro summit
International summits
International summits
Former presidents
Former presidents
History
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1974
The European Council was created as an informal forum for discussion between heads of state or government of the EU member states.
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1992
Under the Treaty of Maastricht, the European Council acquired a formal status and role to provide the impetus and general political guidelines for the EU.
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2009
The European Council became one of the seven EU institutions, following the changes introduced by the Lisbon Treaty.
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