Leaders set to pick EU president

[pampango]

Source: BBC

European Union leaders will gather in Brussels later to select their first full-time president and foreign affairs high representative.

Former UK prime minister Tony Blair had been an early favourite for president. But France and Germany look set to back a less prominent figure, the Belgian Prime Minister Herman van Rompuy.

They are widely expected to strive for a balance in the two posts, with one likely to be filled by a candidate from one of the bigger EU states, the other from a smaller country. Similarly, the presidency is expected to go to a centre-right politician and the post of foreign affairs chief to the centre-left.

Both jobs were created under the long-stalled Lisbon Treaty, which will come into force on 1 December, and both are meant to give the EU a stronger voice in the world.

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8367589.stm

[oldironside]

1. This is highly undemocratic...

... which is about par for the course for the EU, but I can live that for this one decision just as long as Blair doesn't get it. Please.

[DavidDvorkin]

2. van Rompuy made a speech a few years ago

touting Europe's Christian foundation and swearing that Turkey would never be admitted.

[bossy22]

3. agreed

it's almost frightening the direction western europe is heading. I was recently on a trip to europe to visit a few friends and I am starting to think george orwell was right....just 25 years too early. There are CCTV cameras everywhere.