Wolfowitz Gets EU Leaders' Support for World Bank Job

[Freddie Stubbs]

March 23 (Bloomberg) -- Paul Wolfowitz, President George W. Bush's choice to lead the World Bank, gained support from European Union nations as Italy and the Netherlands joined Germany in saying they'll back his nomination.

``Enthusiasm in Europe will be muted,'' German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said today. ``But Germany will behave very constructively, and the appointment of Mr. Wolfowitz won't be blocked by Germany. My impression is: also not by other European countries.''

Wolfowitz, 61, has sought to overcome concerns that he is the wrong person to lead the bank because of his involvement in organizing the Iraq war and his ambition to spread the U.S. brand of democracy and capitalism around the globe.

As deputy U.S. defense secretary since 2001, Wolfowitz was one of the most visible people in the Bush administration criticizing Germany and France for failing to support the Iraq war. Since his nomination, he's said people should recall his work in developing nations such as Indonesia before the Iraq conflict. In an interview on March 18, he said he wouldn't accept the job ``if I didn't believe in the mission.''

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