The Belgian Prime Minister (PM), Herman van Rompuy was elected as the first permanent President of the European Council. Despite the fact that he was not considered to be a ‘big-hitter’, not only was he elected but he had been characterized as a ‘consensus builder’. Born in Brussels in October 1947, Mr Van Rompuy is an economist and a member of the Christian Democratic and Flemish party stressed ‘I have not sought this high position. I have intervened in no way. But from tonight, I will take it up with conviction’, and that ‘even if unity remains our strength, our diversity remains our wealth’. He was officially appointed on the 1st of December and will serve for 2 ½ years chairing the council’s meetings and representing the leaders if the EU globally, while he will represent the council in relations with other EU institutions.