Summits
Since euro area issues are of key political and economic importance to all 27 EU countries, these matters are regularly discussed at leaders level in the European Council.
As the need to have the possibility for euro area only meetings arose, the Euro Summit format has been established alongside. It brings together the heads of state or government of European Union countries that share the euro as their currency, the President of the Euro Summit and the President of the European Commission.
In current practice, dedicated euro area meetings are often held in the full European Council format.
In focus
Origins of the Euro Summit
The Euro Summit was first formalised in October 2011, when euro area leaders agreed on ten measures to improve the governance of the euro area, including holding regular Euro Summit meetings.
President
Herman Van Rompuy is President of the European Council and of the Euro Summit.
Strategic policy guidance
Along with European Council meetings, Euro Summit meetings provide strategic orientation on the economic and fiscal policies in the euro area.
About the Euro Summit
The heads of state or government of the EU countries that have adopted the euro as their currency take part in Euro Summit meetings.