European Council

Nicolas Sarkozy, the President of the French Republic, will preside over the European Council held in Brussels on 11 and 12 December. This meeting is the second European Council organised under the French Presidency, an extraordinary Council meeting having been called on 1 September following the conflict in Georgia.

The European Council brings together the Heads of State and Government of the 27 Member States and the President of the European Commission. They are assisted by the foreign affairs ministers of the EU Member States and a member of the Commission. European Council meetings are also attended by the High-Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy and Secretary-General of the Council of the European Union, who assists the President of the European Council, and by the Secretary-General of the European Commission.