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EU fills new top jobs

European leaders select Belgian premier to be the EU’s first permanent president. EU trade commissioner Catherine Ashton from the UK lands the foreign policy spot.

After nail-biting negotiations at a council meeting headed for the history books, the decision on Belgian prime minister Herman Van Rompuy and commissioner Ashton was unanimous.

President Barroso congratulated the two. “I think it will be impossible to have a better choice than those personalities for the European Union leadership.”

A Christian-Democrat politician and economist by training, Mr Van Rompuy, 62, has served as Belgium’s premier for nearly a year. Many credit him with bringing stability to the country during tensions between the French- and Flemish-speaking communities.

“I have not sought this high position. I have intervened in no way. But from tonight, I will take it up with conviction,” he said.

In an agreement with the European commission, the council appointed Catherine Ashton, 53, to be the EU’s high representative for foreign affairs and security policy. A member of the UK Labour Party, she will also serve as a vice-president of the next commission now being formed.

The two posts were created by the recently approved Lisbon treaty, which aims to enhance the EU’s role in world affairs and streamline its decision-making.

The new president will serve for 2½ years. The position will replace the rotating presidency under which one member country chairs major EU meetings for six months.

Van Rompuy’s core responsibilities will include chairing council meetings and representing EU leaders on the global stage. He will also represent the council in relations with other EU institutions.

Catherine Ashton will have the authority to propose defence and security measures. She will also be tasked with setting up a network of diplomats around the world to support the new office.

She said she was surprised by her nomination, which must still be confirmed by parliament. "I am very honoured and proud to have been asked to take on this role. “"I will make sure I represent our values across the world.”

The post of high representative merges two existing portfolios: high-representative for common foreign and security policy and commissioner for external relations.

The selections become official with the entry into force of the Lisbon treaty on 1 December.

Poverty: one of the main priorities of the European Union

'Any progress in thwarting the scourge of poverty is a success for our common values,' declared President Barroso in a video message broadcast during the conference 'Poverty, between reality and perceptions: the communication challenge'. This event was organised in Brussels to mark the launch of 2010 European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion. Unable to attend in person due to meetings related to the preparation of the European Council, the President nevertheless wished to speak by this means in order to explain how strongly he felt about the issue. At present almost 80 million people in Europe are on the poverty line, including 19 million children.

You could also view President's (Barroso) video message by clicking at: 
http://c14005-o.l.core.cdn.streamfarm.net/video4/dgComm/barroso/66159W_2.mp4

If you are also interested in checking the results of the Eurobarometer survey on poverty and social exclusion visit:  http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/09/480&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=fr

Final political hurdle cleared – road to Lisbon open...

Road to Lisbon open

Once the EU leaders had succeeded in resolving the Czech Republic’s concerns surrounding the Treaty of Lisbon yesterday evening, the final political hurdle was cleared for the entry into force of the Treaty. Now all that remains are the verdict of the Czech Constitutional Court and the Czech President’s signature.

 

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Thank you!

Dear all,

I hope you had a good time during the national holiday. Thank you all for letting me know that TEI sessions would not be held last Monday. Your direct response was great! Thank you all. I 'll see you tomorrow.