# Van Rompuy chosen as first permanent European Council President

Date: 2009

On 19 November 2009 EU leaders unanimously chose Belgian Prime Minister [Herman Van Rompuy](/people/herman-van-rompuy) as the first full-time President of the European Council under the Lisbon Treaty. At the same summit European Commissioner [Catherine Ashton](/people/catherine-ashton) was named the bloc's high representative for foreign policy.

## People

- Herman Van Rompuy: https://factrail.ai/people/herman-van-rompuy

## Sources

- https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-selects-van-rompuy-and-ashton/
- https://agenceurope.eu/en/bulletin/article/10023/34/herman-van-rompuy-and-catherine-ashton-are-unanimously-chosen-by-27-heads-of-state-and-government
- https://www.politico.eu/article/epp-plans-to-strip-hungarys-fidesz-of-membership-rights-document/

## Methodology

https://factrail.ai/methodology

Canonical: https://factrail.ai/facts/van-rompuy-first-european-council-president-2009-11-19