Refers to the regular meetings, or summits, of the European Union's (EU) heads of state or government. It defines the general political direction and priorities of the EU but unlike the European Parliament and Council of the EU is not a co-legislator. It became an EU institution with the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty on 1 December 2009.

The European Council meets twice every six months, or extraordinarily if the situation requires, convened by its President. Decisions are normally taken by consensus, but in some cases by unanimity or by qualified majority, depending on what the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU requires.

The European Council elects its President by a qualified majority. The President's term of office is two and a half years, renewable once.

Note that this body is separate from the Council of the EU and the Council of Europe, a 47-member non-EU institution of nearly all European countries.

For more information, see Practice note, European Council.