2.2: Foreign policy provisions of the revised text of the Treaty on the European Union (TEU)", "EU Reform Treaty analysis 1: JHA provisions", "Finnish Conservatives name Stubb foreign minister", "Spats over who gets to go to EU summit break out in Poland, Finland", "Consolidated version of the Treaty on European Union", "The European Council – the who, what, where, how and why – UK in a changing Europe", "Permanent seat for the European Council could change the EU's nature", "Informal meeting of EU heads of state or government, Malta, 03/02/2017 - Consilium", "Why PMs won't miss going to EU Council summits", Access to documents of the European Council, Archive of European Integration – Summit Guide, Reflection Group established by the European Council, European Coal and Steel Community (1951–2002), European Economic Community (1958–1993/2009), Mechanism for Cooperation and Verification, Cities with more than 100,000 inhabitants, Largest cities by population within city limits, Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party, Alliance of Independent Democrats in Europe, Movement for a Europe of Liberties and Democracy, Initiative of Communist and Workers' Parties, Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, European Conservatives Group and Democratic Alliance, National parties by European organisation, Political groups of the European Parliament, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=European_Council&oldid=1015651360, Articles with dead external links from February 2021, Articles with unsourced statements from March 2021, Pages using bar box without float left or float right, Wikipedia articles with SELIBR identifiers, Wikipedia articles with SUDOC identifiers, Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 2 April 2021, at 18:06. The European Economic Community (EEC) and other joint institutions were founded. The council is made up of the Union’s 27 heads of state, plus a president. The EU adopts laws to protect the environment, introducing the notion of ‘the polluter pays’ for the first time. Spain and Portugal join the EU, increasing membership of the European Communities to 12. This is the EU's largest single enlargement in terms of people and number of countries. We will use this data to improve your experience on our website. The post was created by the Treaty of Lisbon and was subject to a debate over its exact role. The Schengen Agreement on the elimination of border controls is signed by Belgium, Germany, France, Luxembourg and the Netherlands in Schengen (Luxembourg). It shows important milestones from the last decades that have shaped the way EU leaders make decisions.The story is told through the eyes of those who witnessed the European Council's transformation to the decision-making centre that it is today. It represents the highest level of … The President of the European Council and the President of the Commission do not hold any vote when the European Council takes a vote. Most of those people, however, are not allowed to the conference room, except for two delegates per state to relay messages. Following the Copenhagen summit in December 1973, which made provision for summits to be held whenever necessary, the Paris summit of December 1974, hosted by President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, creates the European Council. The Amsterdam Treaty establishes an area of freedom, security and justice, and integrates the Schengen Agreement into EU law. In that case, what was politically part of a European Council meeting was legally a meeting of the Council of Ministers. With your permission, we will use AT internet cookies to produce aggregated, anonymous data about our visitors' browsing and behaviour on our website. However, the European Council is composed to represent the EU's states rather than political alliances and decisions are generally made on these lines, though ideological alignment can colour their political agreements and their choice of appointments (such as their president). The 1992 Edinburgh European Council launches public debates, a practice which has been substantially extended over the years, most recently by the Lisbon Treaty. [4][5] Decisions of the European Council are taken by consensus, except where the Treaties provide otherwise. The fight against pollution intensifies in the 1970s. Before that, the first summits of EU heads of state or government were held in February and July 1961 (in … History. Bulgaria and Romania become EU members, bringing the number of member states to 27. The Treaty of Nice introduces the reform of EU institutions, in preparation for a future enlarged EU of 27 member states. As the composition is not precisely defined, some states which have a considerable division of executive power can find it difficult to decide who should attend the meetings. A common administration, the European Community (EC), was created in 1967. The first meeting of the Council of the EEC takes place on 25 January 1958 under the chairmanship of Victor Larock, the Belgian Foreign Affairs Minister. The European Parliament gets the first read of all laws the Commission proposes. [7], Originally, both the European Council and the Council of the European Union utilised the Justus Lipsius building as their Brussels venue. Council of Europe (not be confused with the European Council, the EU’s policy-making body), organization of European countries that seeks to protect democracy and human rights and to promote European unity by fostering cooperation on legal, cultural, and social issues. [18] The President must report to the European Parliament after each European Council meeting.[4][15]. The European Council is an organization in Europe consisting of 27 Nations. To get more information about these cookies, how and why we use them and how you can change your settings, check our cookies policy page. The precursor to the European Union was established after World War II in the late 1940s in an effort to unite the countries of Europe and end the period of wars between neighboring countries. When the European Council, already introduced into the treaties by the Single European Act, became an institution by virtue of the Treaty of Lisbon, this was no longer necessary, and the "Council [of the European Union] meeting in the composition of the Heads of State or Government", was replaced in these instances by the European Council now taking formal legally binding decisions in these cases (Article 15 of the Treaty on European Union). You can also take a look at Council publications, access the archives and search for legislation that the Council negotiates together with the European Parliament. The President of the European Parliament also attends to give an opening speech outlining the European Parliament's position before talks begin.[1][4]. As European and US ambivalence towards the Western Balkans persists, the region will be in increasing danger of falling into an endless spiral of competition between various foreign actors Why cyber security should be a key part of Europe’s Indo-Pacific strategy These nations began to officially unite in 1949 with the Council of Europe. (...) In these negotiations the Union will act as one and preserve its interests. Membership of the EU reaches double figures when Greece joins. For the latest 2008–2014 period, this minimum was well exceeded, by an average of seven meetings being held per year. Since 1996, the number of meetings were required to be minimum four per year. The President of the European Council is elected by the European Council by a qualified majority for a once-renewable term of two and a half years. The President-in-Office was primarily responsible for preparing and chairing the Council meetings, and had no executive powers other than the task of representing the Union externally. Macron is also regularly attending. The European Council becomes a fully-fledged institution with its own President. The first of these ‘European summits’ took place in Paris in 1961 and they have become more frequent since 1969. The council was given legal definition by the Single … The Council is reformed to extend the use of qualified majority voting, and to introduce the principle of enhanced cooperation between member states. One of the EU's 7 official institutions, the European Council takes the form of (usually quarterly) summit meetings between EU leaders, chaired by a permanent president . Meetings of the European Council have from its beginnings often emphasized political as well as economic cooperation among EU nations; for example, the impetus for the move to have the members of the European Parliament elected directly by universal suffrage came out of an agreement reached at the first meeting of the European Council in 1974. [4][15] The role of that President-in-Office was in no sense (other than protocol) equivalent to an office of a head of state, merely a primus inter pares (first among equals) role among other European heads of government. Formed in 1925, it is responsible for upholding modern trade and political agreements continentally. Key events. Essentially it defines the EU's policy agenda and has thus been considered to be the motor of European integration. [25], The EU command and control (C2) structure, as directed by political bodies which are composed of member states's representatives and generally require unanimous decisions, as of April 2019:[26], Macron's Party La Republique en March! Now the leader of the Council Presidency country can still act as president when the permanent president is absent. However, when necessary, the Heads of State or Government could also meet as the Council of Ministers and take formal decisions in that role. [21] An advanced implementation of this agreement occurred in 2002, with certain states agreeing to waive their right to host meetings, favouring Brussels as the location. European Commission, supra note 9. It is a political and economic union between European countries that sets policies concerning the members’ economies, societies, laws, and, to some extent, security. Austria, Finland and Sweden join the EU. Moreover, the European Council influences police and justice planning, the composition of the commission, matters relating to the organisation of the rotating Council presidency, the suspension of membership rights, and changing the voting systems through the Passerelle Clause. [1][4] Two months later, an agreement was signed establishing the provisional Council – the acronym CERN was born. The General Secretariat of the Council is a body of staff responsible for assisting the European Council and the Council of the EU. [11][13][14] Hence with powers over the supranational executive of the EU, in addition to its other powers, the European Council has been described by some as the Union's "supreme political authority". At the December summit in Paris in 1974, following a proposal from then-French president Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, it was agreed that more high level, political input was needed following the "empty chair crisis" and economic problems. The treaty modifies the role of Secretary-General of the Council, who also becomes High Representative for Common Foreign Security Policy. Membership in PNL suspended while holding the office of the president. Committees and working parties handle the preparatory work on files before they are discussed at Council meetings. [20], Until 2002, the venue for European Council summits was the member state that held the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union. [1] In 1950, the creation of the European Coal and Steel Community expanded the cooperation. The European Council officially gained the status of an EU institution after the Treaty of Lisbon in 2007, distinct from the Council of the European Union (Council of Ministers). Additionally, the negotiations involve a large number of other people working behind the scenes. Donald Tusk replaces Herman Van Rompuy as President of the European Council. This eases distrust and tensions between neighbouring European countries following World War II. Two months later, an agreement was signed establishing the provisional Council – the acronym CERN was born. The 15 members now cover almost the whole of western Europe. Press officers speak 'off the record' about the Council's activities. [2][3], The meetings of the European Council, still commonly referred to as EU summits, are chaired by its president and take place at least twice every six months;[1] usually in the Europa building in Brussels. Just a year later, by March 1970, the “Inter-University Council on Western European Studies”–soon renamed simply the Council for European Studies–would be created as a direct result of these discussions. The European Union (EU) is a unification of 28 member states (including the United Kingdom) united to create a political and economic community throughout Europe. The extraordinary meetings always end with official Council conclusions - but differs from the scheduled meetings by not being scheduled more than a year in advance, as for example in 2001 when the European Council gathered to lead the European Union's response to the 11 September attacks. Post-Brexit United Kingdom relations with the European Union, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Treaty establishing the European Community, Article 15 of the Treaty on European Union, Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, European Conservatives and Reformists Party, Presidency of the Council of the European Union, decision of the Council of the European Union on Member States populations for 2021, Command and control structure of the European Union, "Consolidated versions of the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty on the functioning of the European Union", "EUROPA – The European Council: Presidency Conclusions", "EUROPA : Home of the European Council and the Council of the EU - Consilium", "Evolution of the European Council: The implications of a permanent seat", "The founding of the European Council: economic reform and the mechanism of continuous negotiation", "EU Security Policy & the role of the European Commission", Wikisource: Article 2(3)(e), Treaty of Lisbon, "The Union's institutions: The European Council", "BBC News — Belgian PM Van Rompuy is named as new EU president", "EU Reform Treaty Analysis no. At first only a minimum of two meetings per year were required, which resulted in an average of three meetings per year being held for the 1975–1995 period. 1945 – The end of World War II; 1951 – Treaty of Paris creates Coal and Steel Community 1957 – Treaty of Rome creates European Economic Community (by "The Six": Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and West Germany) 1963 – Ankara Agreement initiated a three-step process toward creating a Customs Union which would help secure Turkey's full membership in the EEC. The Treaty of Lisbon enters into force, reforming the structure of the EU and the way in which it functions. The role was held by the head of state or government of the member state holding the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU. Previously, the European Council had been an informal body and the head of the European Council was an unofficial position. Before that, only two meetings a year were required. [4][7], Since the institution is composed of national leaders, it gathers the executive power of the member states and has thus a great influence in high-profile policy areas as for example foreign policy. The European Council was a body of leaders based in Europe during Great World War III in 1972 that was composed of the leaders of some of the major Western European nations. Film: 'From fireside chats to key decision-maker'. The meetings used to be regularly attended by the national foreign minister as well, and the Commission President likewise accompanied by another member of the commission. The European Council was created in 1974 as an informal forum for discussion between heads of state or government of the EU member states. His term runs from 1 December 2019 to 31 May 2022. The European Parliament increases its influence in EU affairs and in 1979 all citizens can, for the first time, elect their members directly. But the need to respond to pressing events in Europe and in the rest of the world, as well as the determination of some, would gradually transform their informal chats into the decision-making centre that we know today. It consists of the heads of state or government of the member states, together with its President and the President of the Commission. The Secretary-General of the Council attends, and is responsible for organisational matters, including minutes. Originally a Western European organization, it … During its 50 years' activity the organisation has deepened and spread its … The European Union (EU) was founded as a result of the Maastricht Treaty on Nov. 1, 1993. Council of Europe European organization founded in 1949 with the aim of strengthening pluralist democracy and human rights, and promoting European cultural identity. At an intergovernmental meeting of UNESCO in Paris in December 1951, the first resolution concerning the establishment of a European Council for Nuclear Research (in French Conseil Européen pour la Recherche Nucléaire) was adopted. Find out more about documents and publications. Founded in 1949, the Council of Europe is one of the oldest and the biggest European organisation, which unifies 47 member states and promotes the main principles of the Human Rights. The European Parliament gets the first read of all laws the Commission proposes. However, since the Treaty of Lisbon, this has been discontinued, as the size of the body had become somewhat large following successive accessions of new Member States to the Union. The first Eurogroup meeting is held on 4 June 1998 at the Chateau de Senningen in Luxembourg. The European Council is the EU institution that defines the general political direction and priorities of the European Union. At an intergovernmental meeting of UNESCO in Paris in December 1951, the first resolution concerning the establishment of a European Council for Nuclear Research (in French Conseil Européen pour la Recherche Nucléaire) was adopted.. Two months later, an agreement was signed establishing the provisional Council – the acronym CERN was born. History. Since October 2003, all formal European Council meetings take place in Brussels. It is defined as providing the impetus and general political guidelines for the EU's development. At an intergovernmental meeting of UNESCO in Paris in December 1951, the first resolution concerning the establishment of a European Council for Nuclear Research (in French Conseil Européen pour la Recherche Nucléaire) was adopted. In the Paris European summit of February 1974, it was decided that these meetings of Heads of State or Government should henceforth be held on a regular basis under the name of ‘European Council’, which would be able to adopt a general approach to the problems of European inte… The Council of the EU and the European Council work on a wide range of issues affecting the interests of the EU and its citizens. Comprising 33 National Resuscitation Councils, the ERC's principal activities are: Science Prior to Lisbon, the Presidency rotated in accordance with the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The press office holds press events, offers audiovisual coverage of major events and provides facilities for journalists. For the last time, the European Council meeting is chaired by a president or prime minister of the member state holding the rotating Council presidency. In the 1950s, when an embryonic European Union was taking shape, national leaders had to improvise every time they wanted to meet. The European Council brings together EU leaders to set the EU's political agenda. The table below outlines the number of leaders affiliated to each alliance and their total voting weight. History. Established in: 1974 (informal forum), 1992 (formal status), 2009 (official EU institution) Location: Brussels (Belgium) Website: European Council. A number of ad hoc meetings of Heads of State or Government of the Euro area countries were held in 2010 and 2011 to discuss the Sovereign Debt crisis. It was agreed in October 2011 that they should meet regularly twice a year (with extra meetings if needed). The European Council (informally EUCO) is a collegiate body that defines the overall political directions and priorities of the European Union. Though the idea of the EU might sound simple at the outset, the European Union has a rich history and a unique organization, both of which aid in its current success and its ability to fulfill its mission for the 21st Century. Creation of the European Council. They were informal summits of the leaders of the European Community, and were started due to then-French President Charles de Gaulle's resentment at the domination of supranational institutions (notably the Eur…   The European Council gets the second read on all laws and can accept the Parliament’s position, thus adopting the law.   [24] However, in 2004 leaders decided the logistical problems created by the outdated facilities warranted the construction of a new purpose built seat able to cope with the nearly 6,000 meetings, working groups, and summits per year.