EU leaders on Thursday picked little known Belgian Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy as Europe’s first president with a mission to give the continent a greater world profile.
Catherine Ashton of the UK became the EU’s foreign policy supremo in the new team after the UK dropped its campaign for former British prime minister Tony Blair so that Van Rompuy got unanimous approval at a special leader’s summit called to make the appointments.
US President Barack Obama welcomed the appointment of an EU president, saying it would make Europe an “even stronger partner” to the US.
“This is the new leadership team of Europe,” said Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeld, flanked by Van Rompuy and Ashton, speaking after the dinner summit.
“The idea is to have a leader of the [EU] council ... who actually gives room for everyone, who listens to everyone, who creates winners not losers,” Reinfeldt said. “We have achieved that.”
The posts were created under the EU’s Lisbon treaty, which reforms decision-making in a bid to give the 27-nation bloc more credibility in dealing with the likes of the US and China.
Van Rompuy said he regretted giving up his position as Belgian prime minister, but accepted the challenge of managing member states frequently at odds over competing national agendas.
“Even if it is particularly difficult to abandon the leadership of my country, I accept your decision and I thank you for the honor you have given me,” said Van Rompuy, who takes up the post on Jan. 1.
He said he would be a president “with conviction.”
The nominations, however, prompted accusations that the EU leaders had chosen lightweight representatives for heavyweight bouts that lie ahead on issues as varied as the economy, climate change, nuclear power and the war in Afghanistan.
Jose Manuel Barroso, president of the European Commission, the EU administrative arm, rejected the suggestions at a post-summit press conference.
“It is so important that Britain remains at the heart of the European project and Cathy Ashton brings the global visions that Britain has,” he said. “She is our foreign minister.”
Ashton, who only became the EU trade commissioner last year but has swiftly earned a reputation as an effective negotiator, said: “Judge me on what I do and I think you will be pleased and proud of me.”
Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, whose country holds the EU’s rotating presidency, had expressed fears before the summit of weak appointments being made.
“This could mean — from our point of view — missing a historic occasion,” Bildt wrote on his Internet blog.
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