The
Prime Minister of Belgium,
Herman Van Rompuy, is designated the first permanent
President of the European Council,The Treaty of Lisbon entered into force on 1 December 2009 the six-month rotating presidency of the European Council ceased to exist (as the provision for its existence has been erased from the Treaties in force), and the new office of
President of the European Council came into being. The appointment of Herman van Rompuy as
President of the European Council became effective on the date of the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon. Also, article 6 of the Protocol "on transitional provisions" annexed to the Treaty of Lisbon provided that on the date of the entry into force of the Treaty, the terms of office of the High Representative for the common foreign and security policy and of the Deputy Secretary General of the Council ceased, with the Council electing a Secretary General.
//register.consilium.europa.eu/pdf/en/08/st06/st06655.en08.pdf register.consilium.europa.eu
