The family photo of Thursday's European summit marked the 50th anniversary of the European Council, but the body's new president, Antonio Costa, was flanked by only two of his three predecessors, Herman Van Rompuy and Donald Tusk.
When invited, Charles Michel replied that he was unavailable, according to the President's entourage.
This absence was noticed and caused a furore among Michel's critics. Questioned by Belga, the former Belgian Prime Minister explained that the invitation had arrived very late, on Monday afternoon, and that he had been unable to shift private commitments. "I mentioned this to Mr. Costa, who was very understanding," the former Council president pointed out.
The circle of Heads of State and Government of the European Communities met for the first time on 9-10 December 1974 in Paris, at the invitation of French President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing. Now known as the European Council, it had a permanent President in 2009 in the person of former Belgian Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy.
It is, in fact, the Belgian veteran who will represent the Council on the European Union's new body for ethical standards. Antonio Costa has decided to take part, unlike Charles Michel, who had refused.
The agreement on this new body was reached a few months ago after several years of prevarication, under pressure from the Qatargate scandal.
Eight institutions have agreed to participate: the Parliament, Council (EU ministers), Commission, Court of Justice, European Central Bank, European Court of Auditors, European Economic and Social Committee and European Committee of the Regions.
The body is responsible for drawing up common minimum standards of ethical conduct and checking how these regulations have been taken into account in the internal rules of each institution.
From now on, "it will cover me as President of the European Council," Mr. Costa said in his letter of invitation to European leaders.
