Diplomats say EU choose Belgian as new president

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(Photo: Herman Van Rompuy)

BRUSSELS — Diplomats say EU leaders have opted for little-known compromise candidate Belgian Premier Herman Van Rompuy to become the bloc’s first full-time president.

Envoys added that the 27 leaders have also agreed to appoint Britain’s EU commissioner Catherine Ashton as the bloc’s new foreign policy chief, replacing Spaniard Javier Solana.

Ashton has been the EU’s trade commissioner since last year.

They spoke on condition of anonymity because the decision had not yet been formally announced at summit talks Thursday.

The choice of Van Rompuy signaled the leaders were not eager to have a high-profile personality represent the EU abroad. The two new posts are meant to bolster the EU’sinfluence overseas.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

(Photo: Catherine Ashton New Foreign Policy Chief)

BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union’s 27 leaders were facing an all-nighter Thursday as a bruising battle loomed over who to name as the bloc’s first full-time president and new foreign policy chief.

Sweden’s Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, chair of the EU summit, said despite his best efforts at mediation the EU leaders were deadlocked ahead of the dinner that will decide the issue Thursday night.

Reinfeldt told reporters in Stockholm that “it might take all night” to get all the leaders to agree on two names, and added that the list of candidates he has drafted is far too long.

“We are not of the same opinion,” said Reinfeldt. “I need of course the collaboration of all my colleagues to get this through.”

Time is pressing for the leaders, as the new posts must be filled before the EU’s new reform treaty comes into force on Dec. 1.

At stake is how the European Union presents itself to the world in years to come. The two posts aim to bolster the bloc’s influence amid the rise of China, Brazil and India to handle global issues like climate change, terrorism and trade.

The leaders are trying to strike the right balance between big countries and small, rich and poor, east and west, socialists and conservatives, male and female. Lawmakers and protesters have already questioned why only one woman is being considered so far.

Belgium’s little-known Premier Herman Van Rompuy leads the pack of half a dozen mentioned politicians said to be interested in the presidential post, which is being created under the new EU charter.

Britain however, opposes Van Rompuy and is pushing hard for ex-prime minister Tony Blair to get the job, saying Europe needs a high-profile EU president.

Others like France and Spain, fearing Blair would overshadow them, favor a low-profile person in the top EU post, one limited to chairing summits and greeting foreign dignitaries.

“The person should be a co-ordinator rather than a president,” said Jerzy Buzek, speaker of the European Parliament. Read more…

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