European Council

The next institutional cycle

EU leaders are expected to adopt the strategic agenda 2024-2029, a policy plan that sets the EU’s direction and goals. Over the past year, President Michel led discussions with EU leaders on challenges and future priorities to be included in the strategic agenda based on three pillars:

• a free and democratic Europe
• a strong and secure Europe
• a prosperous and competitive Europe

Leaders are also expected to adopt a roadmap for future work on internal reforms to be undertaken by the EU to fulfil long-term ambitions and strengthen its capacity to deal with increasingly complex challenges. This work will run in parallel with the EU enlargement process. 

Following the informal meeting of leaders on 17 June 2024, they will decide the appointments for the next institutional cycle. The European Council’s role, according to the Treaty on the European Union (TEU), is to:

• elect the President of the European Council
• nominate the President of the European Commission
• appoint the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy