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 convenes (usually quarterly) at summit meetings between EU leaders, chaired by a permanent president.
The European Council:
· decides on the EU’s overall direction and political priorities – but does not pass laws
· deals with complex or sensitive issues that cannot be resolved at lower levels of intergovernmental cooperation
· sets the EU’s common foreign & security policy, taking into account EU strategic interests and defence implications
· nominates and appoints candidates to certain high profile EU level roles, such as the European Central Bank and the Commission.