The European Council The European Council is the forum in which
the most senior political representatives of the European Union
and its Institutions can meet. Ireland is represented by the
Taoiseach. The President of the European Council is Herman Van
Rompuy. He chairs the meetings and ensures that the European
Council performs its function of defining the general political
direction and priorities of the European Union. The European
Council usually meets between four and six times per year. The
conclusions of each meeting are available to the public.