European Council

European Union (EU).

The European Council's members include the heads of state of all EU countries and the president of the European Commission.

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 European Commission.

See also

• Council of Europe
• Council of the European Union
• European Central Bank
• European Commission
• European Parliament
• European Union
• High Council