European Parliament president – Martin Schulz
Term: January 2012 - July 2014
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 President of the European Parliament's job
More on the European Parliament
European Council president – Herman Van Rompuy
Term: June 2012 - November 2014
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 President of the European Council's job
More on the European Council
European Commission president – José Manuel Barroso
Term: January 2010 - December 2014
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 G8 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
More on the European Commission
More on how Commissioners are appointed
