Sweden names 'new leadership team of Europe'
BRUSSELS (AFP) - European Union's first president and foreign policy supremo has been appointed.
[Catherine Ashton, Fredrik Reinfeldt, Herman Van Rompuy]
The Swedish EU presidency and EU leaders chose Belgian Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy Thursday as the European Union's first president.
Catherine Ashton of Britain became the European Union's foreign policy supremo in the new team after Britain dropped its campaign for former prime minister Tony Blair so that Van Rompuy got unanimous approval at a special leader's summit called to make the appointments.
"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."
US President Barack Obama welcomed the appointment of an EU president saying it would make Europe an "even stronger partner" to the United States.
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 United States and China.
Van Rompuy said he regretted giving up the Belgian premiership, 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 honour you have given me," said Van Rompuy, who takes up the post on January 1.
He said he would be a president "with conviction."
Last Updated (Friday, 20 November 2009 10:59)
