Belgian President Herman Van Rompuy appointed first ` ` president of Europe , '' British PM Gordon Brown says . Tony Blair ruled out after his successor as British PM realized Blair had insufficient support . President of EC will be first permanent member of the European Council of Ministers . One Indian official told CNN before the announcement , `` If the EU chooses as its worldwide representative the prime minister of Belgium or Luxembourg , I am not sure our leaders will have the time to meet him . '' Elections conducted by heads of state and government , not by EU 's parliamentarians .
Belgian President Herman Van Rompuy appointed first ` ` president of Europe , '' British PM Gordon Brown says . Tony Blair ruled out after his successor as British PM realized Blair had insufficient support . President of EC will be first permanent member of the European Council of Ministers . Elections conducted by heads of state and government , not by EU 's parliamentarians .