Below are excerpts from the new rules of procedure of the European Council, now an institution of the European Union headed by the newly selected president. Notice in particular the sentences with bold letters!

THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 235(3) thereof,
Whereas:
(1) The Treaty of Lisbon transforms the European Council into an institution of the European Union.
(2) The European Council should therefore adopt its Rules of Procedure.
Done at Brussels, 1 December 2009.
For the European Council
The President
H. VAN ROMPUYEN

Highlights:

• The European Council shall meet twice every six months, convened by its President
• The European Council shall meet in Brussels.

Correspondence to the European Council shall be sent to its President at the following address:
European Council
rue de la Loi 175
B-1048 Brussels

• The President of the European Council, in close cooperation as referred to in the first subparagraph, shall prepare draft guidelines for the European Council conclusions and, as appropriate, draft conclusions and draft decisions of the European Council, which shall be discussed in the General Affairs Council.

• The President of the European Parliament may be invited to be heard by the European Council. Such exchange of views shall be held at the start of the meeting of the European Council, unless the European Council unanimously decides otherwise.

• The European Council shall consist of the Heads of State or Government of the Member States, together with its President and the President of the Commission. The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy shall take part in its work

• When the agenda so requires, the members of the European Council may decide each to be assisted by a minister and, in the case of the President of the Commission, by a member of the Commission.

• The total size of the delegations authorised to have access to the building where the meeting of the European Council is held shall be limited to 20 persons for each Member State and for the Commission, and to five for the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. That number shall not include technical personnel assigned to specific security or logistic support tasks. The names and functions of the members of the delegations shall be notified in advance to the General Secretariat of the Council.

• The European Council shall be represented before the European Parliament by the President of the European Council.

• The President of the European Council shall present a report to the European Parliament after each of the meetings of the European Council .

• The member of the European Council representing the Member State holding the Presidency of the Council shall present to the European Parliament the priorities of its Presidency and the results achieved during the six-month period.
• Meetings of the European Council shall not be public
  
• Without prejudice to the provisions on public access to documents, the deliberations of the European Council shall be covered by the obligation of professional secrecy, except insofar as the European Council decides otherwise.
  
  

source:  2.12.2009 Official Journal of the European Union L 315/55