European Council - summits
The European Council brings together the Heads of State or Government of the Member States and the President of the Commission. These are assisted by the foreign ministers of the Member States and when certain items are on the agenda finance ministers may also attend. The European Council meets once or twice per Presidency at what are generally referred to as EU summits.
Informal summit in Lahti, Finland, 20 October 2006.
Summits were established in the 1960s alongside the other EU decision-making structures and became more regular in the early 1970s. They received formal status in Paris in 1974.
The European Council work is largely prepared by the Council for General Affairs and External Relations, in which foreign ministers first adopt the agenda, an 'annotated agenda', and then the draft conclusions of the summit. A few days before the summit meeting, the Head of State or Government of the Member State holding the Presidency sends a letter to his or her counterparts and the Commission President inviting them to the meeting. This letter generally contains a list of subjects to be discussed but there is no formal agenda as for Council meetings.
Give impetus and establish guidelines
Even if the European Council is not legally an EU institution, it is described today as the EU's most important body. According to the Treaty on European Union its task is to 'provide the Union with the necessary impetus for its development and define the general political guidelines thereof'. Since it is somewhat removed from the detailed, everyday decision-making process it can often resolve problems in the work of the Union. The European Council can also swiftly intervene in the event of a crisis, especially if the representatives are in agreement.
Decision-making
The European Council rarely takes formal decisions but it establishes, through conclusions, general political guidelines for the Union. The guidelines drawn up are included in the 'Presidency conclusions'. They represent an important instrument for the follow-up of the European Council's guidelines carried out by the institutions and Member States. Through the conclusions, the European Council can urge the Council, the Commission and the Member States to act in a particular way.
