The European Council is a collective body that defines the European Union's overall political direction and priorities. It comprises the heads of state or government of the EU member states, along with the President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission. The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy also takes part in its meetings. Established as an informal summit in 1975, the European Council was formalised as an institution in 2009 upon the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon. Its current president is Charles Michel, former Prime Minister of Belgium.
Officials removed British flags from the European Council on Friday, leaving the 27 flags of the European Union's remaining member states hanging away from the renowned union jack on Brexit day.
After years of wait, the day has finally come. The United Kingdom leaves the European Union for an uncertain Brexit future, the most significant change to its place in the world since the loss of..
Britain's Union Jack was removed from lines of EU member state flags at the European Council and European Parliament buildings in Brussels on Friday evening ahead of the United Kingdom's exit from the.. Reuters - Published
The more Britain diverges from EU rules and regulations after Brexit, the less access to the bloc's single market it will have, European Council President Charles Michel said on Friday. Reuters - Published
European Council President Charles Michel said on Thursday he had spoken to Iran's President Hassan Rouhani and urged Tehran to comply with the 2015 arms control agreement that prevents it developing.. Reuters - Published
The European Union hopes for a quick British parliament vote on Britain's withdrawal from the bloc and clarity on London's plans following Prime Minister Boris Johnson's triumph in elections, the head.. Reuters - Published
U.S. President Donald Trump poses one of the biggest challenges for the European Union because he is "praying" for the breakup of the bloc, European Council President Donald Tusk said. Reuters - Published
Outgoing European Council President Donald Tusk on Wednesday was elected president of the center-right European People's Party, a pan-European umbrella group that has been riven by infighting in recent.. Reuters - Published
Britain will lose influence in international affairs and become a "second-rate player" after it leaves the European Union, European Council President Donald Tusk said on Wednesday. Reuters - Published
European Council President Donald Tusk said on Tuesday he would not run for president of Poland, dampening the expectations of some opposition supporters that he would challenge incumbent President.. Reuters - Published
Two of Britain's smaller political parties have joined forces to try to trigger a Dec. 9 election and have written to Donald Tusk, the president of the European Council, to ask for a delay to Brexit to.. Reuters - Published
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson told European Council President Donald Tusk on Wednesday he did not want another Brexit delay, confident he could still get a deal through parliament by Oct. 31,.. Reuters - Published
European Council President Donald Tusk said on Wednesday that he explained to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on a call why he was recommending that leaders of the EU's 27 other member states.. Reuters - Published
European Council President Donald Tusk said on Tuesday that he would recommend that the 27 other member states of the European Union approve a delay of Britain's departure date following Prime Minister.. Reuters - Published
The European Council president said on Tuesday that London's request for an extension of its deadline for divorce from the EU should be taken seriously, and the bloc's other members would never take a.. Reuters - Published
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has sent two letters to European Council president Donald Tusk - an unsigned message relaying parliament's request for an extension to Brexit and a letter from him setting.. Independent - Published
European Council President Donald Tusk said on Thursday that the EU and Britain were "very close to the final stretch" of Brexit, with approval by the British parliament and the European Parliament the.. Reuters - Published
A failure to agree to open EU membership negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania would be a "grave mistake," European Council President Donald Tusk believes, a senior EU official said on.. Reuters - Published
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday a deal with Britain on its departure from the European Union was being finalised and could potentially be agreed on at a European Council summit on.. Reuters - Published
European Council President Donald Tusk said on Wednesday it should be known in seven or eight hours when Brexit could happen and in theory a deal could be accepted on Thursday. Reuters - Published
It is currently unclear if it will be possible to have a Brexit deal by the time of this week's European Council summit, an official from French President Emmanuel Macron's office said on Tuesday. Reuters - Published
European Council head Donald Tusk said on Friday he felt slightly more hopeful the European Union and Britain will achieve a deal on the latter's withdrawal from the bloc following months of deadlock. Reuters - Published
European Council President Donald Tusk chastised Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Friday for threatening to send millions of Syrian refugees to Europe and blasted the Turkish operation in northern.. Reuters - Published
European Council President Donald Tusk said on Friday the latest round of Brexit talks carried no guarantee of success and time was nearly up for a deal to be reached by Oct.31, tempering a burst of.. Reuters - Published
European Council President Donald Tusk said on Friday that Turkey must understand the EU's concerns that Turkey's actions in Syria may lead to a humanitarian crisis. Reuters - Published
European Council President Donald Tusk said on Friday the latest round of Brexit talks carried no guarantee of success and time was "practically up" - but that even the slightest chance must be used to.. Reuters - Published
![EU Council bids goodbye to Britain's union jack [Video]](https://video.newsserve.net/300/v/20200131/2001311935-EU-Council-bids-goodbye-to-Britain-union.jpg)
!['Brexit Day' steps into transition twilight zone [Video]](https://video.newsserve.net/300/v/20200131/2001311341-Brexit-Day-steps-into-transition-twilight-zone.jpg)
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