European CouncilInternational
International · founded 1974
What it is
The European Council is the collegiate body of the European Union that brings together EU heads of state or government alongside its President and the President of the European Commission. Based in Brussels, Belgium, its mandate is to define the EU's overall political direction and priorities, though it does not exercise legislative functions. Originating as informal summits initiated at the December 1974 Paris conference, it officially gained the formal status of a full European Union institution in 2009 under the Treaty of Lisbon.
People
António Costa
President of the European Council
Volodymyr Zelenskyy
President of Ukraine
Bart De Wever
Prime Minister of Belgium
Ursula von der Leyen
President of the European Commission
Alexander De Croo
Prime Minister of Belgium
Volodymyr Zelensky
President of Ukraine
Kristen Michal
Prime Minister of Estonia
Rumen Radev
Prime Minister
Events (5)
2026-10-16 SummitEuropean Council Summit on Economic Competitiveness, Ukraine Support, and Sanctions
2026-10-16 SummitPrime Minister Kristen Michal participates in European Council Summit on EU budget, competitiveness, and security
2026-10-15 SummitBulgarian Delegation Attends European Council Summit on Competitiveness, Energy Prices, and Trade
