Secretary-General
The General Secretariat of the Council (GSC) is led by its Secretary-General. Her main roles are to assist the Council and the European Council and to manage the GSC. She is appointed by the Council.
The Secretary-General is responsible for the overall organisation of the GSC. She oversees the provision of services by the GSC to the presidencies of the Council and its preparatory bodies, and to the President of the European Council.
She is also responsible for the administrative management of the GSC as to its human and financial resources.
The Secretary-General takes part in Council meetings as appropriate. Her role is essentially to ensure the continuity, progress, and coherence of the Council's work and to advise the Council and its presidency.
The Secretary-General of the Council is also the Secretary-General of the European Council. She attends European Council meetings and takes all measures necessary for the organisation of its proceedings.
Thérèse Blanchet is the Secretary-General. She was appointed on 13 October 2022 for a five-year term, from 1 November 2022 to 31 October 2027.
Last review: 23 January 2026