Lord Bruce of Doningtonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the European Council, as established under Article D of the Treaty of the European Union, is thereby empowered to act without any proposal from the European Commission or the European Parliament and to give its own independent instructions to the Commission. [HL6]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean)According to Article D of the Treaty on European Union, "the European Council shall provide the Union with the necessary impetus for its development and shall define the general political12WA guidelines thereof'. The European Council does not require a proposal from the European Parliament or the European Commission before it acts in this way.
In the exercise of its functions under the Community Treaties, the Commission is not subject to instructions from the European Council. It is likely to take account of the general political guidelines defined by the European Council in accordance with Article D. The Commission is represented on the European Council by its President.