What is the European Council and why is it meeting in Brussels?

European Union leaders gather during a round table meeting at an extraordinary EU summit on Ukraine at the European Council building in Brussels, Thursday, Feb 24, 2022. - Copyright Olivier Hoslet/AP

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By Orlando Crowcroft & Vassilis Glynos

Published on 23/03/2022 - 17:19•Updated 28/03/2022 - 18:11

The tete-a-tete brings 27 EU leaders together six times a year - and this year there is a special guest.

EU leaders are meeting in Brussels this week to discuss energy prices, COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine.

The meeting is a summit of the European Council, made up of 27 member states and meeting six times a year.

But what is the European Council and what power does it have? And why do its meetings sometimes stretch to more than 80 hours?

Watch the video above to find out more.