List of members of the European Council



The European Council (informally EUCO) is a collegiate body that defines the overall political direction and priorities of the European Union.

Established as an informal summit in 1975, the European Council was formalised as an institution in 2009 upon the commencement of the Treaty of Lisbon. Its current president is Charles Michel, former Prime Minister of Belgium.

Membership
EUCO is composed of the heads of state or government of the EU member states, the President of the European Council, and the President of the European Commission.

The membership of each member state depends on its political system. A member of the EUCO is usually the highest representative of the executive branch of government. Member states with presidential or semi-presidential system of government are represented by the head of state (president). Those countries are France, Romania, Cyprus and Lithuania. Other member states with parliamentary systems of government are represented by prime ministers.

Longest-serving members of the European Council
Below is the list of leaders who have been members of the European Council for more than 10 years: