By Martin Banks - 22nd February 2012
It says something about the 'importance' of the role than, it seems, no one else wants to do the job
MEP
Herman Van Rompuy is expected to continue as president of the European council until December 2014.
His reappointment for two and a half years is expected to be rubberstamped at the European summit of prime ministers and heads of state in Brussels next week (1-2 March).
He has occupied the post since December 2009 and was the first EU council president. Once famously likened by one MEP to a "dishcloth", he immediately started negotiations on the euro crisis.
The role of European council president is only renewable once, for two and a half years.
It is an unelected position and was created by the Lisbon treaty.
According to reports, his term is due to be extended as no alternative candidates have come to the fore and no blocking minority has been formed.
Van Rompuy is a senior Belgian politician of the Christian Democratic and Flemish party who served as the 49th prime minister of Belgium from 30 December 2008 until his predecessor Yves Leterme succeeded him on 25 November 2009.
On 19 November 2009, Van Rompuy was elected by member states as council president, initially seen mostly as a role for a 'technocrat'.
He was appointed to chair the institution for the period starting from 1 December 2009 until 31 May 2012, though he only took up his position officially on 1 January 2010.
His term has been marked by an unusually high number of EU summits, organised by Van Rompuy, to discuss the economic downturn.
UKIP leader Nigel Farage was heavily criticised when, soon after his appointment, he told parliament that Van Rompuy had "the charisma of a damp rag" and the appearance of a "low-grade bank clerk".
He accused Van Rompuy, who was in the chamber at the time, of having "a loathing for the very concept of the existence of nation states", adding, "Perhaps that's because you come from Belgium, which is pretty much a non-country."
One MEP, who did not wish to be named, said, "It says something about the 'importance' of the role than, it seems, no one else wants to do the job."
However, Van Rompuy has been widely praised for his cool, unassuming approach to his work and Farage "has recognised that Van Rompuy has become a loud rather than the quiet assassin of European democracies".
