Structure

In today's post we are going to analyze what members form the European Council,how are they elected and what are the functions that they exert. So the European Council is structured like this:

President

The President of the European Council is elected by the European Council by a qualified majority. He is elected for a 2.5 year term, which is renewable once. The President may not hold a national office at the same time. The role of the President is set out in article 15 of the Treaty on the European Union (TEU) he is responsible of chair the European Council meetings, as well as prepare it, facilitate the cohesion and consensus and present reports to the European Parliament after each meeting, also ensures the external representation of the EU in common foreign and security policy and at international summits, in addition he can convene extra meetings to address urgent issues

The European Council and its President are assisted by the General Secretariat of the Council of the EU (GSC). He also has his own private office, the Cabinet of the President.

The current President of the European Council is Donald Tusk. He replaced Herman Van Rompuy on 1 December 2014.And re-elected in June this year, before he was Poland’s prime minister

Heads of State and Government

The European Council consists of the heads of state or government of the member states. In the meetings each one representing their State can be assisted by a national minister

The European Council mostly takes its decisions by consensus. However, in certain specific cases outlined in the EU treaties, it decides by unanimity or by qualified majority. If a vote is taken, neither the European Council President nor the Commission President take part.

The European Council also appoints all 6 members of the Executive Board of the European Central Bank (ECB), which includes both the ECB President that can be invited to the Council meetings and Vice-President, plus 4 other members.

The Commission President

The European Council must propose a candidate for the post of President of the European Commission. When deciding on their candidate, the European Council considers the result of the European Parliament election. The European Parliament must approve the proposed candidate by a majority of its members (a minimum of 376 MEPs). If the European Council's candidate doesn't get a majority approval in the Parliament vote, the European Council must propose a new candidate.

He also is a member of the European Council and takes part in the debates, representing the commission and can be assisted by one of his members although he is non-voting

The European Council officially appoints the entire European Commission by the same process

High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

The European Council is responsible for appointing the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. The decision on the proposed candidate requires a qualified majority. It is participant in the meetings of the European Council

EXTRA

- The Secretary-General of the Council directs the Council Secretariat which attends, and is responsible for organisational matters and assist the council (planning, convening and organizing the meetings, advises to the EU presidency, clarify legal aspects…)

- The President of the European Parliament also attends to give an opening speech defining the European Parliament's position before the meeting begins.

President of the European Council and the heads of state