The European Council was created in 1974 as an informal forum for discussion between heads of state or government of the EU member states. The Council developed rapidly, defining its goals in all areas of the European Union and set appropriate measures to achieve them. In 1992, under the Treaty of Maastricht, the European Council acquired a formal status and role to provide the impetus and general political guidelines for the EU. The European Council became one of the seven EU institutions, following the changes introduced by the Lisbon Treaty.   The European Council consists of the heads of government of each EU member state, the European Council President  and the President of the European Commission. The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy participates in its work. The European Council determines the general policy and priorities of the EU. It has no legislative functions.     The European Council deals with complex and sensitive issues that could not be resolved at a lower level. It sets the EU’s common foreign & security policy; besides, it nominates and appoints candidates to certain high profile EU level roles, such as the European Central Bank and the European Commission.

The European Council meets twice every six months, convened by its President. When the situation so requires, the President will convene a special meeting. The Presidents term of office is two and a half years, renewable once (Based on the Treat of Lisbon). The European Council usually meets in Brussels. It generally decides issues by consensus except where otherwise provided for by the agreement. In some cases – the European Council takes its decisions by unanimity or qualified majority. During decision-making, the presidents of the Council and the European Commission, as well as the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, do not have the right to vote.