European Council

a body both within and outside the EUROPEAN UNION. The European Council brings together the heads of state or of government of the Member States and the President of the Commission of the European Union. They are assisted by the Ministers for Foreign Affairs and by a member of the Commission. It meets at least twice a year.

Quite the most curious body in the European Union, its origins lie in the time when the council of the European Union had given up voting by qualified majority and tried to seek unanimity. Decision-making became more difficult, and momentum was sought from the extra-Community Intergovernmental Conference of Heads of State or Government because the parties at this gathering were eligible to be members of the Council proper. As a result of a resolution of that body, in 1974 the parties agreed to meet three times a year and whenever necessary to constitute themselves as the Council. When they meet, the President and senior Vice-president of the Commission attend. In practice, it does keep to overall policy and tries to consider issues of development and policy and the clearing of log jams. Its success has been rewarded by recognition in the SINGLE EUROPEAN ACT. There are proposals to give it formal institutional status.

Collins Dictionary of Law © W.J. Stewart, 2006

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References in periodicals archive

Last week the European Council meeting in Brussels adopted conclusions "aimed at imposing targeted measures against Turkey's illegal activities in Cyprus' Exclusive Economic Zones".

EU was tough on Turkey, president insists, but actions take time

EU leaders reaffirmed the previous Conclusions of the General Affairs Council and the European Council, including the Conclusions of 22 March 2018, strongly condemning Turkey's continuing illegal activities in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Aegean.

ENERGY: Cyprus salutes unprecedented EU support to thwart Turkish drilling

European Council President Donald Tusk told reporters in Brussels the United Kingdom accepted the European Union's scenarios.

EU Nations Unanimously Agree to Delay Brexit

"They agreed we must now see what proposals emerge from London in advance of the European Council meeting in Brussels on Thursday.

BEACHED; Brexit going nowhere as Boris frolicks in Italy Taoiseach holds talks with Tusk over extension

The European Council endorsed the European Parliament's proposal of 2019 that the number of MEPs would be 705 after the leaving of the UK.

The EU-Turkey Meeting in Varna is far from Certain

International contributors in political science, European politics, and public administration investigate various aspects of the redistribution of power in the EU and the role of the European Council. Part 1 looks at the European Council as an institution and policymaker, while Part 2 examines the EU presidency and the European Council.

The European Council and European Governance: The Commanding Heights of the EU

"A legislative hold-up," "treaty violation" and "lack of transparency": MEPs are set to adopt a stinging report, on 12 December, on relations between Parliament and the European Council. To the annoyance of members of the EP, the European Council president was not present in the chamber, on 11 December, to hear their grievances ahead of the upcoming summit.

INSTITUTIONS : PARLIAMENT LECTURES EUROPEAN COUNCIL

Before the European Council, German Chancellor Angela Merkel had already announced that there was no rush and that an agreement in 2013 might be more likely.

MULTIANNUAL FINANCIAL FRAMEWORK/EUROPEAN COUNCIL : NO DEAL ON MFF AS FRANCO-GERMAN TANDEM UNDER STRAIN

Prime Minister David Cameron said Britain had no duty to contribute to any possible Greek bailout and vowed to "fight very hard" to defend his stance at last week's European Council meeting.

NO REASON' FOR BRITAIN TO JOIN GREECE RESCUE: CAMERON