The European Council

The European Council represents the highest level of political cooperation between EU countries. It gathers the Heads of state or government of the Member States, the President of the European Council, the President of the European Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

The EUCO is chaired by a President, appointed by the Heads of state or government for a once-renewable two-and-a-half-year term. He/She coordinates and oversees the work of the European Council.

It is the EUCO that decides on the EU’s overall direction and political priorities. It also sets EU’s common foreign and security policy.