  == nationally elected officials ==  :No other body is directly elected although the Council of the European Union and European Council is composed of nationally elected officials.  This is not true. The Council of the European Union is composed of national ministers. Ministers are not necessarily elected. One good example was Dominique de Villepin, former French foreign minister and prime minister. He has never stood for election. The European Council is composed of heads of state or government.  A head of government needn't necessarily be nationally elected.  If nobody opposed, I shall delete this sentence as it is inaccurate.