It now has a permanent president of the European Council (representing national governments) and it is creating its own diplomatic service, which will need high-security premises.

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The presidency of the Council of Ministers rotates on a six monthly basis, although future meetings of the European Council will be chaired by the new permanent president of the European Council, Herman van Rompuy.

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The creation of a permanent "President" of the European Council (which brings together the heads of state and government of all 27 member states) was intended to provide leadership and strategic direction.

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Assuming that is right, expect to see a big increase in appeals to the one bit of the European machine where unanimity will remain the rule: the European Council, which gathers together the 27 national leaders of the EU. Under Lisbon the European Council is to gain a semi-permanent president, to replace the system of rotating presidencies.

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