Angela Merkel officially assumed the role of EU Council President for a second time on July 1. The German Chancellor, who runs the largest economy in the EU, will now wield even greater powers within the bloc as the future of the European Union hangs in the balance.
Ms Merkel, who previously held the role in 2007, will be at the forefront and lead core decision making as the EU battles the huge economic downturn of the COVID-19 pandemic, crucial Brexit negotiations and unrest between member states.
The 65-year-old will take the rotating role for the next six months and will have the authority to set the agenda until January 1, 2021.
The veteran German politician will hold the executive power to formally assert influence on key issues and set timetables.
As part of the role, German ministers will lead regular meetings with their departmental colleagues from the other 26 member states.
For instance, German Finance minister Olaf Scholz will be able to chair discussions on the coronavirus rescue package for the bloc.
A €750 billion recovery fund has been backed by Ms Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron and is yet to be approved – dividing member states.
Although Ms Merkel’s influence has increased, decision making within the bloc will still require the support of a majority of EU nations.
The EU Council must also seek the approval from the EU Commission and European Parliament.
In many ways, the role of Ms Merkel will be focused on brokering a compromise between the two EU institutions and act as an “honest broker”.
In 2007, Ms Merkel took the reigns as EU Council chief at a time when the President wielded ever greater influence.
During her reign 13 years ago, just before the 2008 financial crash, Ms Merkel had the authority to chair meetings with heads of state and Government officials.
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Ms Merkel told the Bundestag that the EU “must and should prepare for a situation in which an agreement does not happen”.
She added: “The progress made during the negotiations have been, to put it mildly, minimal.
“With Great Britain, we have agreed to speed up these negotiations to be able to agree on a deal in autumn, which would then also need to be ratified until the end of the year.”
Downing Street has since fired back and warned Brussels that Boris Johnson is prepared to walk away without a trade agreement on Australian-style terms.
Ms Merkel will stay as the rotating President of the EU Council until the end of the Brexit transition period.
An official from Portugal will succeed the German Chancellor on January 1, 2021.
(Additional reporting by Monika Pallenberg)