The European Council

Definition

The European Council is an institution of the European Union (EU) that comprises heads of state or government of EU countries, the President of the European Commission, and the President of the European Council. It sets the EU's overall political direction but does not pass laws.

Analogy

Think of the European Council as a group project team in school where each member represents different sections or departments. They meet to discuss and decide on big-picture strategies for their project, but they don't actually do the day-to-day work or write up all the details.

Related terms

Council of Ministers: Also known as 'The Council' or 'Council of the EU', it's one part of a bicameral legislature in which representatives from each member country come together to adopt laws and coordinate policies.

European Commission: This is essentially like an executive cabinet for Europe. It proposes legislation, implements decisions, upholds treaties and manages everyday business within EU.

Treaty on European Union (TEU): This treaty established both The European Union itself and its governing structure including institutions such as The European Council.