EU Leadership
Presidents
European Parliament President – Roberta Metsola
Term: July 2024 - January 2027
Elected by: Members of the European Parliament
Role:
- ensures parliamentary procedures are properly followed
- oversees Parliament's various activities and committees
- represents Parliament in all legal matters and in its international relations
- gives final assent to the EU budget
More on the European Parliament President's job
European Council President – António Costa
Term: December 2024 - May 2026
Appointed by: national leaders (heads of state or government of EU countries)
Role:
- leads the European Council's work in setting the EU's general political direction and priorities – in cooperation with the Commission
- promotes cohesion and consensus within the European Council
- represents the EU externally on foreign and security issues
More on the European Council President's job
European Commission President – Ursula von der Leyen
Term: December 2024 - November 2029
Appointed by: national leaders (heads of state or government of EU countries), with the approval of the European Parliament
Role:
- gives political guidance to the Commission
- calls and chairs meetings of the College of the Commissioners
- leads the Commission's work in implementing EU policies
- takes part in G7 meetings
- contributes to major debates both in the European Parliament and between EU governments in the Council of the European Union
More on the Commission President's job
Presidency of the Council of the EU
The Council of the EU - where national ministers discuss EU legislation - doesn't have a permanent, single-person president. Its work is led by the country holding the Council presidency, which rotates every 6 months. For example, representatives from the presidency country chair its meetings.
