New EU President

From the BBC:
"EU foreign head dismisses critics"

President of European Council

Elected by:

European Council leaders. Liable to select candidate by consensus. If vote held, each country has different number of votes. Winner must gain 258 out of 345 votes from at least 18 of the 27 countries.

- Term of two and half years - renewable once.

- Salary reported to be 350,000 euros ($521,374) a year

Position and key roles:

- Duty to "facilitate cohesion and consensus", without national bias. Head of state.

- Represents EU abroad on issues concerning its common foreign and security policy.

- Must report to European Parliament after each European Council meeting.

- No influence on military. EU Military staff receives "taskings" from EU Military Committee (which represents defence chiefs of all member states).

^ I have altered this article only by taking out the comparisons to the United States President.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8363297.stm