Herman Van Rompuy EU`s first President
Brussel, 20 /11/ 2009 - Ararat News-Publishing (ANP) / By Roni Alasor and Fiona Lorin - Belgian current Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy has been appointed EU`s first President and British Catherine Ashton will be EU Foreign Policy chef.
During the European Union Summit of the Head of the states yesterday in Brussels, Herman Van Rompuy, Belgian Prime Minister, was appointed permanent President of the European Council.
Herman Van Rompuy, 62-year-old Flemish Christian Democrat, will become the face of EU and represent all the 27 Member States at international summits. His role is also to build consensus among the European leaders.
"A negotiation that ends with a defeated party is never a good negotiation," said Van Rompuy in his speech. "As president of the council, I will listen carefully to everyone, and I will make sure that all deliberations turn into results for everyone."
The post of EU President was created by the newly adopted Lisbon Treaty, legislation which sets out the rules of functioning of the European institutions. Van Rompuy will serve a two-and-a-half-year term, which can be renewed one time.
The other new post, created by the Lisbon Treaty - EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, was taken by Catherine Ashton, European Trade Commissioner from UK and Labour party's leader in the British House of Lords.
“Working with both the Council and the Commission will be a challenge, and being the first person ever to hold this post will be a challenge. I was the first woman British European Commissioner, then I was the first woman Trade Commissioner and now the first woman on this post.”, said Baroness Ashton.
The position of Catherine Ashton is equivalent of a foreign minister. She will run a new EU diplomatic service employing several thousand staff and she will be in charge of EU's common foreign and security policy.
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