President of the European Council

President of the European Council
Name	President of the European Council
Incumbent	Charles Michel
Incumbentsince	2019-12-01
Residence	Europa Building
Style	His/Her Excellency
Appointer	European Council
Termlength	2.5 years, renewable once
Formation	2009 (Treaty of Lisbon)
Inaugural	Herman Van Rompuy

President of the European Council

The President of the European Council is the permanent chair of the European Council and a prominent representative in external affairs involving the European Union, the Council of the European Union, and the European Commission. The office, created by the Treaty of Lisbon and first held by Herman Van Rompuy, mediates among heads of state and heads of government from member states such as France, Germany, Poland, Spain, and Italy. The President frequently engages with global leaders from the United States, China, Russia, United Kingdom, and multilateral fora including the United Nations and the G20.

Role and Responsibilities

The President chairs meetings of the European Council where leaders from Belgium, Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Greece, Hungary, and other member states set strategic directions for the European Union and coordinate positions on issues like the Eurozone crisis, migration crisis, climate change, and trade policy. The President prepares and advances the Council's agenda through consultations with the President of the European Commission, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and national leaders including former presidents and prime ministers from Poland, Romania, and Portugal. The office represents the EU at international summits such as COP26, NATO summit, and meetings with leaders of Brazil and India.

Appointment and Term

The President is elected by qualifying majority of the European Council for a term set by the Treaty of Lisbon — typically two and a half years, renewable once — following consultations with leaders from Austria, Ireland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Finland, and others. Elections have involved figures associated with parties like the European People's Party, Party of European Socialists, and Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party. Past selections have reflected dynamics involving the Council of the European Union and national parliaments such as those in Germany's Bundestag and France's National Assembly.

Powers and Functions

While lacking unilateral executive authority, the President convenes and presides over summits, defines strategic orientations on matters including the Schengen Area, the Single Market, and sanctions policy tied to ""-level decisions, and steers consensus among leaders from Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Slovenia, and Croatia. The President appoints agenda items, issues conclusions endorsed by heads of state, and represents the EU externally alongside the President of the European Commission and the High Representative, notably in dialogues with Angela Merkel, Emmanuel Macron, Boris Johnson, and Joe Biden. The role interacts with instruments such as the European External Action Service and influences policy responses to crises like the Greek government-debt crisis and the Ukraine conflict.

Relationship with EU Institutions

The President maintains institutional relations with the European Commission, the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union, the European Central Bank, and agencies including the European Investment Bank and the European Court of Justice. Collaboration with the President of the European Commission has involved joint statements on enlargement covering Western Balkans aspirants like Serbia and North Macedonia, coordination with the High Representative on sanctions concerning Belarus and Syria, and interaction with parliamentary committees in the European Parliament chaired by figures from S&D and EPP groups. The President liaises with national leaders and supranational bodies during treaty negotiations reminiscent of the Maastricht Treaty and the Treaty of Amsterdam processes.

History and List of Presidents

The office was established by the Treaty of Lisbon and first filled by Herman Van Rompuy in 2009. Subsequent incumbents include Herman Van Rompuy, Donald Tusk, and the current President, Charles Michel. Their tenures corresponded with events such as the European sovereign debt crisis, the Brexit referendum, the migrant crisis, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Each President worked with Commissioners such as José Manuel Barroso, Jean-Claude Juncker, Ursula von der Leyen, and High Representatives like Catherine Ashton and Federica Mogherini.

Selection Criteria and Political Considerations

Selection often reflects geographic balance among member states including Nordic countries, Baltic states, Central Europe, and Mediterranean states, party-family considerations involving the European People's Party, Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, and intergovernmental bargaining among leaders like Mateusz Morawiecki, Pedro Sánchez, Mark Rutte, and Katarina Barley. Language competence in English, French, and German and diplomatic experience in institutions such as the Council of Europe, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, or national ministries influence candidacies. Treaty interpretations and legal opinions from the European Court of Justice have occasionally shaped selection mechanics.

Controversies and Criticisms

Critics from national parliaments in Poland, Hungary, and commentators in The Economist and Financial Times have argued the post is insufficiently democratic, overly technocratic, or lacking accountability to the European Parliament. Debates have arisen over the balance of influence between the President and the President of the European Commission during crises like Brexit and the Ukraine war, and over conflicts of interest when nominees are former national leaders tied to domestic controversies involving governments of Cyprus, Malta, or Greece. Calls for reform reference intergovernmental proposals from summits in Nice and Treaty of Lisbon negotiations.

Category:European Union politics