02 July 2019

European Council appoints new EU leaders

The European Council elected its President for the next two and a half years and proposed candidates for President of the European Commission, President of the European Central Bank and High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

The European Council elected today Charles Michel as President of the European Council. The President of the European Council is elected for the period from 1 December 2019 until 31 May 2022. The mandate of two and a half years of the President of the European Council is renewable once. The European Council also welcomed the decision of the Heads of State or Government of the Member States whose currency is the euro to appoint Charles Michel as President of the Euro Summit, for the same term of office.

The European Council adopted the decision proposing Ursula von der Leyen to the European Parliament as candidate for President of the European Commission. The proposed candidate will need to be elected by the European Parliament by a majority of its component members.

The European Council also considered Josep Borrell Fontelles to be the appropriate candidate for High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. The formal appointment of the High Representative by the European Council requires the agreement of the President-elect of the Commission.

The President of the Commission, the High Representative and the other members of the Commission will be subject as a body to a vote of consent by the European Parliament, before the formal appointment by the European Council. Their term of office will last 5 years from the end of the current Commission until 31 October 2024.

The European Council also considered Christine Lagarde to be the appropriate candidate for President of the European Central Bank. The European Council will take a formal decision on the appointment on the basis of a Council recommendation, after having consulted the European Parliament and the ECB's Governing Council. The mandate for the President of the European Central Bank is for 8 years non-renewable.

Full press release

European Council conclusions, 30 June - 2 July 2019

Remarks by President Donald Tusk after the special meeting of the European Council on 30 June - 2 July 2019

[...]We have proposed Ursula von der Leyen as the next President of the European Commission and nominated Christine Lagarde as the candidate for President of the European Central Bank. We have elected Charles Michel as the next President of the European Council and President of the Euro Summit, as well as nominated Josep Borrell as the candidate for High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

It will now be for the European Parliament to consider Ursula von der Leyen for Commission President. If elected, she will be the first woman to lead the European Commission.

Charles Michel will, with his experience as Belgian Prime Minister, be ideal for finding consensus and building unity among Member States.

Josep Borrell will, as Foreign Minister and former President of the European Parliament, be a strong representative and defender of the European Union’s interests and values in the world.

Christine Lagarde will, with her international background and standing as current Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, be a perfect President of the European Central Bank.

 

In addition, the European Council took note of Ursula von der Leyen's intentions to nominate Frans Timmermans and Margrethe Vestager as the highest-ranking Vice-Presidents of the Commission. We also expect Ursula von der Leyen to ensure an appropriate geographical balance in the team of Vice-Presidents. [...]

Full remarks

© European Council