New EU leaders appointed

The European Council has agreed on the future leadership of the EU institutions. EU leaders have elected Charles Michel as the new President of the European Council and proposed Ursula von der Leyen as candidate for the President of the European Commission. They have also nominated Josep Borell Fontelles as candidate for the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Christine Lagarde as candidate for the President of the European Central Bank. Finally, the italian S&D member David Sassoli was elected as European Parliament president on 3 July following two rounds of voting.

The leaders discussed and agreed on nominations for the EU’s top jobs at the Special European Council on 30 June, 1 and 2 July 2019 in Brussels.

The European Council elected Charles Michel as the new President of the European Council and proposed Ursula von der Leyen as candidate for the President of the European Commission. They have also nominated Josep Borell Fontelles as candidate for the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Christine Lagarde as candidate for the President of the European Central Bank.

• European Council conclusions, 30 June – 2 July 2019
• Remarks by President Donald Tusk, 2 July 2019
• European Council appoints new EU leaders (press release)

Charles Michel: President of the European Council

The European Council elected  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.

Ursula von der Leyen: President of the European Commission

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.

Josep Borrell Fontelles: High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

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.

Christine Lagarde: President of the European Central Bank

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.

David Sassoli: President of the European Parliament

David Sassoli has been elected as President of the European Parliament. Sassoli, 63, received 345 votes out of 667 votes cast in the second ballot. He is a former TV journalist and has been an MEP since 2009.

Background

The meeting followed intense consultations between European Council President Donald Tusk and the heads of state or government and the European Parliament. EU leaders discussed the possible candidates for the top positions in the EU at the June European Council, but did not conclude, as there had been no majority on any candidate. The June meeting followed the informal dinner on 28 May 2019, where the leaders took stock of the results of the EP elections and mandated President Tusk to conduct consultations with the European Parliament and the heads of state of government.

More information

Nomination process for new heads of EU institutions in 2019 (background information)