Medlemsstaterne repræsenteres i Det Europæiske Råd af deres stats- eller regeringschef og i Rådet af deres regeringer, der selv er demokratisk ansvarlige enten over for deres nationale parlamenter eller over for deres borgere.  
Member States are represented in the European Council by their Heads of State or Government and in the Council by their governments, themselves democratically accountable either to their national Parliaments, or to their citizens.  