Jean-Claude Juncker has been in power for longer than any two of the others put together. The median political longevity in June was held by Cowen, who had then been in power for just over two years; now it is Faymann, who has also been in power for just over two years. There have been four changes since the June summit, which itself had had two new faces from the previous European Council meeting.

14 of the 27 heads of state and government, and the presidents of all three EU institutions, are in the European People’s Party. (Though Leterme is on his way out.) 5 are in the Party of European Socialists. Another 5 (three of whom – Cowen, Ansip and Kiviniemi – face elections in the near future) are Liberals. British PM Cameron is now joined around the table by fellow ECR member Nečas. Christofias remains the only Communist. (Net changes since June: Socialists down one, Liberals and ECR up one, independents out.)

There are three women, Merkel, Kiviniemi and Radičová (up two since June).

The recent changes bring the average year of birth from 1956 to 1959, the year that Bulgarian PM Borisov was born, with 18 of the 30 born between 1954 and 1964 inclusive. Buzek is older than any of the national leaders except Berlusconi; Van Rompuy is older than any except Berlusconi and Christofias.

8 of the 27 were born before their countries were independent (counting the Czechs and Slovaks, but not counting Merkel, though she is East German). 17 of the 27 have lived under dictatorship, communism and/or colonial rule. Europe has come a long way.

I am still younger than all of them except the Latvian and Finnish prime ministers. (Mark Rutte is ten weeks older than me.)

To be continued next time…