Gender balance among EUCO leaders

As can be seen from the chart below, since its creation, the European Council has been a largely male-dominated forum. Until 1979, there had been no female Heads of State or Government in the European Council, but female membership has increased in recent years. In 2015, with five women among the Heads of State or Government, female membership reached its highest level to date. If one also includes the President of the European Commission, there are currently five female members of the European Council.
The chart to the right above also shows that 13 Member States have had female leaders to date, with Finland having three who have sat in the European Council since its accession in 1994.