European Council

British  

noun

1. an executive body of the European Union, made up of the President of the European Commission and representatives of the member states, including the foreign and other ministers. The Council acts at the request of the Commission

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Example Sentences

At one point, António Costa, the president of the European Council, approached Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, saying: “You are friends again.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 17, 2026

Corrections & Amplifications The last name of Majda Ruge, a senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, was given incorrectly in one instance as Ruige in an earlier version of this article.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 15, 2026

On a visit to Sarajevo on Monday, European Council President Antonio Costa insisted that the next high representative should follow "Bosnia and Herzegovina's choice to pursue European Union accession".

From Barron's • Jun. 4, 2026

Magyar also met European Council President António Costa, who represents the EU's 27 member states.

From BBC • Apr. 29, 2026

The European Council shall meet at least twice a year, under the chairmanship of the Head of State or of Government of the Member State which holds the Presidency of the Council.

From The Treaty of the European Union, Maastricht Treaty, 7th February, 1992 by European Union