President of the European Council

Article  15 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU) establishes the position of president of the European Council. The President is elected by the European Council by a qualified majority for a term of 2½  years, renewable once. He/she cannot simultaneously hold any national office.

The main functions of the President are:

• to independently and impartially chair and drive the European Council;
• to prepare the Council’s work and ensure its continuity in cooperation with the President of the Commission and on the basis of the work of the General Affairs Council;
• to seek cohesion and consensus among member countries;
• to ensure the EU’s representation on issues concerning the common foreign and security policy without prejudice to the powers of the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
• to report to the Parliament about the work of the European Council.

SEE ALSO

• Common foreign and security policy (CFSP)
• European institutions
• High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
• Institutional balance
• European Council's website on the President's role