EUABC A dictionary on words related to the EU

European Council

: The European Council in Luxembourg (Photo: European Commission)

The regular meeting of the Heads of State and Government of the EU Member States.

These Presidents and Prime Ministers, together with the President of the EU Commission, meet on average four times a year.

Notes

The European Council was first recognised in a treaty by the Single European Act (1986).
The Nice summit of December 2000 determined that every second EU summit will take place in Brussels.

The future

When the Union is enlarged in 2004 - and then comprises of more than 18 Member States - all EU summits will be held in Brussels according to declaration No. 22 of the Treaty of Nice.

Links

http://ue.eu.int/