European Council President Charles Michel was unanimously re-elected for a second term at a meeting of EU leaders on Thursday.
The 46-year-old former Belgian prime minister’s next two-and-half-year term will begin on June 1 and run until the end of November 2024, the European Council said a statement.
As president of the European Council, Michel’s main role is to chair summits of the EU’s national leaders and coordinate the body’s work.
According to three officials, the decision to re-elect Michel was unanimous, although a qualified majority would have been enough.
Considered close to French President Emmanuel Macron, Michel had been widely expected to secure another term by EU officials and diplomats. His re-election took place shortly before U.S. President Joe Biden joined the EU leaders for their Brussels meeting, following a NATO summit also held in the Belgian capital.
“I came to congratulate the man who just got re-elected without opposition. I’d dream about that someday,” Biden joked, standing next to Michel, as he arrived at the EU gathering.