EU president to be chosen next week
Wednesday, 11 November 2009 15:40
Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt has indicated that the EU Council's first full-time president will be chosen on 19 November.
Mr Reinfeldt, who is leading the appointment process as chairman of the Council of Ministers, said he had decided that EU leaders should go to Brussels on that date to finalise their choice at a working dinner.
He signalled that the first president is almost certain to be a sitting or former head of government in one of the 27 member states.
The British government still backs former premier Tony Blair, despite unpopularity in some European quarters over his support for the war in Iraq.
The current favourite is Belgium's centre-right Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy, who has French and German support according to diplomats.
However the discreet negotiator could find himself overshadowed by his main backers and, if chosen, find his role reduced to facilitator and consensus builder.
That could leave the way clear for a more forceful foreign policy chief, taking a firm platform to the likes of the China, Russia and the US.
