European Council
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.
One of the EU's 7 official institutions, the Council takes the form of (usually quarterly) summit meetings between EU leaders, chaired by a permanent president.
What does the European Council do?
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-Decides on the EU's overall direction and political priorities – but does not pass laws.
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-Deals with complex or sensitive issues that cannot be resolved at lower levels of intergovernmental cooperation
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-Sets the EU's common foreign & security policy, taking into account EU strategic interests and defence implications
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-Nominates and appoints candidates to certain high profile EU level roles, such as the ECB and the Commission
On each issue, the European Council can:
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-ask the European Commission to make a proposal to address it.
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-pass it on to the Council of the EU to deal with
Contentssopgave van deze pagina:
The European Council is made up of the heads of state or government of all EU countries, the European Commission President and the High Representative for Foreign Affairs & Security Policy.
It is convened and chaired by its President, who is elected by the European Council itself for a once-renewable two-and-a-half-year term. The President represents the EU to the outside world.
It usually meets 4 times a year – but the President can convene additional meetings to address urgent issues.
It generally decides issues by consensus – but by unanimity or qualified majority in some cases. Only the heads of state/government can vote.