European Council and Council of the European Union

The European Council brings together the heads of state and government of the European Union. Currently, PES parties lead eight governments in the European Union – Austria, Bulgaria, Hungary, Lithuania, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, the United Kingdom - and are coalition partners in three countries – Cyprus, Germany and Luxembourg.

The PES is also active in the ministerial formations of the Council of the European Union, pursuing social democratic policies at European level. 


PES Prime Ministers meet regularly before European Summits to discuss common policies and goals that should be achieved during the European Council. Prime Ministers' meetings took place on:

- 13 March 2008
- 18 October 2007
- 8 March 2007 


The Secretary General of the Council of the European Union and High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) is Javier Solana, former Minister of State under the Spanish socialist governments from 1982 to 1995. As Secretary-General of the Council/High Representative for the CFSP, Javier Solana participates in General Affairs and External Relations Council meetings and plays a key role in the formulation, preparation and implementation of the CFSP.

Secretary-General of the Council of the EU

Javier Solana

Javier Solana was born in Madrid on 14 July 1942. He is married and has two children. He has a Doctorate in physics and was Fulbright scholar at several American universities. He was Professor of solid-state physics at Madrid Complutense University and is the author of over thirty publications in the field. He was Member of the Spanish Chapter of the Club of Rome. Javier Solana joined the Spanish Socialist Party in 1964. He is Member of the Spanish Parliament since 1977. He was appointed Spanish Cabinet Minister from 1982 to 1995 without interruption: from December 1982 to July 1988: he was Minister for Culture (simultaneously acted as Government Spokesman from July 1985 to July 1988). From July 1988 to July 1992 he was appointed Minister for Education and Science. From July 1992 till December 1995: he was Minister for Foreign Affairs. In December 1995, he was appointed Secretary-General of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation(NATO), which he remained until October 1999. Since 18 October 1999, he is Secretary General of the Council of the European Union/High representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP). Since 25 November 1999, he has been Secretary General of Western European Union (WEU). In July 2004, he was appointed for a second 5-year mandate as Secretary-General of the Council of the EU and EU High Representative for the CFSP.