The President's role

The current President of the European Council is Charles Michel. He started his first term on 1 December 2019. On 24 March 2022, he was re-elected President for a second term of two and a half years.

Portrait of Charles Michel — Charles Michel, President of the European Council

The role of the President is set out in article 15 of the Treaty on the European Union (TEU). In particular, the President of the European Council is responsible for:

chairing European Council meetings and driving forward its work
ensuring the preparation of European Council meetings and the continuity of their work, in cooperation with the President of the Commission, and on the basis of the work of the General Affairs Council configuration
helping to facilitate cohesion and consensus within the European Council
presenting a report to the European Parliament after each European Council meeting

The President of the European Council also ensures the external representation of the EU at the level of heads of state or government:

on issues related to the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), alongside the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy who helps put into effect the CFSP and ensure its unity, consistency and effectiveness
at international summits, usually alongside the President of the European Commission

International summits

The President of the European Council represents the EU at 3 main types of international summits.

Bilateral summits

They are organised between the EU and its strategic partners. Such summits are held on a regular basis, usually once a year, with countries such as Japan, the US, Canada, Ukraine and China. The location for the summits alternates between Brussels and the country concerned.

Multilateral summits of global groupings and organisations

The EU is either a member or invited to take part as a key international player, such as the G7, G20 and the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

Multilateral summits with regional organisations and partners

The EU holds such summits with organisations like the African Union or CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) or with regional partners such as those from the Western Balkans.

International summits involving the EU (background information)

Appointment

The President of the European Council is elected by the European Council by a qualified majority.

He or she is elected for a 2.5 year term, which is renewable once. In accordance with established practice, the rotating presidency is in charge of the coordination of the election process. During the European Council, which discusses the election of the President, it is the Head of State or Government representing the presidency that chairs this part of the meeting.

The President may not hold a national office at the same time.

Staff

The European Council and its President are assisted by the General Secretariat of the Council of the EU (GSC).

The President also has a private office, the Cabinet of the President. The staff and office are located in the Council's Europa building in Brussels, Belgium.

Cabinet of the President of the European Council

History of the European Council President function

The position of President of the European Council became a permanent and full-time role following the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon in 2009.

Previously, the European Council had been an informal body and the head of the European Council was an unofficial position. The role was held by the head of state or government of the member state holding the rotating Presidency of the Council of the EU.