2.2. The Role of the European Council's President

The European Council elects by a qualified majority its President for a term of two and a half years, renewable once. In the event of an impediment or serious misconduct, the European Council can end the President’s term of office in accordance with the same procedure.

The President of the European Council:
(a) chairs the European Council and drives forward its work;
(b) ensures the preparation and continuity of the work of the European Council in cooperation with the President of the Commission, and on the basis of the work of the General Affairs Council of the Council of the EU;
(c) endeavours to facilitate cohesion and consensus within the European Council;
(d) presents a report to the European Parliament after each of the meetings of the European Council.

The President of the European Council ensures at his level and in that capacity the external representation of the EU on issues concerning its common foreign and security policy, without prejudice to the powers of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
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