European Council

European Council a consultative branch of the governing body of the European Union (EU). It is composed of the heads of government of the EU nations and their foreign ministers, in conjunction with the president and two additional members from the European Commission . It meets at least twice a year. Meetings of the European Council often emphasize political as well as economic cooperation among EU nations; for example, the impetus for the move to have the members of the European Parliament elected directly by universal suffrage came out of an agreement reached at the first meeting of the European Council in 1974. The council was given legal definition by the Single European Act (1987).

European Council A governing body of the EU, it was established by the Paris summit in 1974. It is composed of the heads of government of the EU member states (and the French President in the case of France), and has met at least three times a year to discuss common issues. In the first decade, it had no legal basis for its existence, and throughout it has been criticized as undemocratic and intransparent. Its decisions are made behind closed doors, by members who are elected on account of their national, not their European policies. Nevertheless, because of its membership, the European Council has developed into one of the pivotal institutions of the EU, since its decisions could be directly implemented by the national governments of the member states. It was formally recognized by the Single European Act, and has been given further recognition by the Treaty of Maastricht.

http://ue.eu.int