List of presidents of European Union institutions

Each major EU institution is headed by a President with some being more notable than others. Most go back to 1957 but others, such as the Presidents of the Court of Audiors or the Central Bank have been created recently.

Council President

The Presidency of the Council of the European Union is rotated between member-states of the European Union every six months. The Council of the European Union (aka "Council of Ministers" or just "Council") is comprised of the relevant national ministers depending on the topic being discussed. The minister from the state holding the presidency chairs the Council. As a result, the country holding the Presidency is able to affect the overall policy direction of the Union for the six month mandate. Since 2007, the Presidency has been co-ordinated every 18 months by three countries (a "triplet"), though one still takes a lead position every 6 months.

There is usually a national minister in charge of a member's presidency, usually the foreign minister, who is the President of the Council of the European Union. This position is occasionally described by some as the "President of the European Union", though sometimes the title is used for the head of state or government (see European Council below). The current member holding the Presidency is France, until December 2008. The minister in charge is Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner.

President-in-Office European Council

:"Main articles: President-in-Office of the European Council and President of the European Council"

The Presidency of the Council of the European Union also applies to the European Council. The head of state or government of the country holding the Presidency is also the chair of the council (officially referred to as "President-in-Office of the European Council"). Their duty of the President is primarily that of preparing and chairing the meetings of the council. The president is able to direct the general policy direction of the Union during their term and gives a degree of external representation to the Union (e.g. attending G8 meetings). This post is the closest position to any single "President of the European Union" and, like the national minister position above, has been described by some as the "President of the European Union". The position rotates with the Presidency every 6 months, the current President is Janez Janša.

Under the Treaty of Lisbon (based on the European Constitution), the position would become a 30-month appointed position, elected by the members of the European Council, which would see no change in its powers. This new office of "President of the European Council" has been described directly by some as a new "President of the European Union". According to the Financial Times, "the president would have few formal powers, but would give the EU strategic leadership and represent the bloc on the world stage on issues such as climate change, bilateral relations and development." The media also states that the new posts are likely to come into being in 2009 along with the rest of a new treaty. [ [http://www.ft.com/cms/s/d4fe43ac-1ba7-11dc-bc55-000b5df10621.html Push for Blair as new EU president] Financial Times 16.06.07]

Commission President

The President of the European Commission is head of the 27-member college of Commissioners. The Commission's responsibilities include drafting legislative proposals and managing the day to day running of the Union. It is also responsible for a degree of the Union's external representation, for example attending G8 meetings. The Commission President is proposed by the European Council, who take account of the previous European Elections, before being elected by the European Parliament for a five year mandate. The Current President is José Manuel Barroso (Barroso Commission). The first President (EEC) was Walter Hallstein.

Some Presidents have become known as the Founding fathers of the European Union and it has be described by some as the "President of the European Union" but a more common analogy is "Prime Minister of the European Union" given the style of position over a cabinet government. [ [http://www.businessweek.com/1999/99_39/b3648256.htm] [http://www.iht.com/articles/1999/04/16/eu.2.t_0.php] ]

Parliament President

The President of the European Parliament presides over the plenary of the Parliament, which is one half of the legislative branch of the Union. The President also chairs the Bureau and Conference of Presidents as well as representing the Parliament. The President's role is similar to that of a speaker in a national parliament. The current President is Hans-Gert Pöttering, elected by the Parliament's members in 2007 for the usual 2 and a half year mandate.

History of Presidents

Other institutions

The President of the Court of Justice is elected from among the judges every three years (renewable term). The president presides over hearings and deliberations, directing judicial business and administration (for example, the time table of the Court and Grand Chamber). He or she also assigns cases to the chambers for inquiries and appoints a judge as a rapporteur. [cite web|last=Muñoz|first=Susana|authorlink=|coauthors=|title=Organisation of the Court of Justice and the Court of First Instance of the European Communities|work=|publisher=European NAvigator|date=|url=http://www.ena.lu?lang=2&doc=5974|format=|doi=|accessdate=2007-07-13] The current President is Vassilios Skouris. The Court of Auditors is also led by a President, currently Hubert Weber.

The President of the European Central Bank (ECB) is headed by a President, currently Jean-Claude Trichet who is the second President, having been appointed by the Council in November 2003 to take over from Wim Duisenberg.

Another notable position who is not a President is the High Representative. The first was an interim for a short period in 1999, called Jürgen Trumpf and since then it has been Javier Solana.

References

External links

* [http://www.eu2008.si/en/? Slovenian presidency] eu2008.si
* [http://ec.europa.eu/commission_barroso/president/index_en.htm Commission President] ec.europa.eu
* [http://www.europarl.europa.eu/president/defaulten_mac.htm Parliament President] europarl.europa.eu