The President of the European Council is elected by its members through a qualified majority vote for a once-renewable term of two and a half years. Article 15 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU) identifies his duties. It is the Heads of State or Government who vote for this office. The President must report to the European Parliament after each European Council meeting. The post was created by the Treaty of Lisbon and was subject to a debate over its exact role. Prior to Lisbon, the Presidency rotated in accordance with the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The role of that President-in-Office was in no sense (other than protocol) equivalent to an office of a head of state, merely a primus inter pares (first among equals) role among other European heads of government. The President-in-Office was primarily responsible for preparing and chairing the Council meetings, and had no executive powers other than the task of representing the Union externally. Now the leader of the Council Presidency country can still act as president when the permanent president is absent.
the president of the european council is elected by its members through a qualified majority vote for a once-renewable term of two and a half years article 15 of the treaty on european union (teu) identifies his duties it is the heads of state or government who vote for this office the president must report to the european parliament after each european council meeting the post was created by the treaty of lisbon and was subject to a debate over its exact role prior to lisbon the presidency rotated in accordance with the presidency of the council of the european union the role of that president-in-office was in no sense (other than protocol) equivalent to an office of a head of state merely a primus inter pares (first among equals) role among other european heads of government the president-in-office was primarily responsible for preparing and chairing the council meetings and had no executive powers other than the task of representing the union externally now the leader of the council presidency country can still act as president when the permanent president is absent