§ Mr. Leightonasked the Lord Privy Seal what is the status of the European Council under the treaties establishing the European Communities; and what powers it exercises in relation to requests to the EEC Commission for research and secretarial services.
§ Sir Ian GilmourThe European Council is not referred to in the treaties. It was established by decision of the nine Heads of Government who agreed in December 1974
to meet, accompanied by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, three times a year, and, whenever necessary, in the Council of the Communities and in the context of political co-operation".It draws on the Council secretariat and on the Commission for support and for information as necessary.