The 2024 European Parliament elections on 6-9 June, when citizens in each individual EU member state went to the polls to elect their MEPs, marked the starting point for a change and renewal of the leadership in several of the EU’s main institutions.  This signals a 'changing of the guard' for the five-year legislative term up to 2029.

The key leadership posts that will be up for discussion over the coming months are:

• President of the European Commission, currently held by Ursula von der Leyen;
• President of the European Council, currently held by Charles Michel;
• President of the European Parliament, currently held by Roberta Metsola;
• High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy, currently held by Josep Borrell; and
• European Ombudsman, currently held by Emily O Reilly.

This timeline sets out the key milestones and processes until the end of 2024, and the likely timings when decisions will be taken. It is part of the Future-Proofing Europe project, kindly supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs.