Brussels, 20/11/2009 (Agence Europe) - The appointments of Herman Van Rompuy as the full-time president of the European Council and Catherine Ashton as the high representative for foreign affairs and security policy (see EUROPE Special Edition of 19 November, attached) has brought many reactions. The main international partners (led by the USA and China) have welcomed the appointments and expressed the hope that the innovations brought about by the Lisbon Treaty and the new EU faces will have a positive effect on future cooperation. In his message of congratulation to the two appointees, US President Barack Obama states firstly that “the United States has no stronger partner than Europe in advancing security and prosperity around the world”. He said that the new treaty and the two key figures “will strengthen the EU and enable it to be an even stronger partner to the United States”. Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao also welcomed the appointments and the new treaty which was “an important step” towards European integration. “We support European integration because we are in favour of a diversified and multi-polar world,” he said.
European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek said he was relieved that “the long internal institutional debate is almost over. The EU can focus more now on the crucial issues facing our citizens”. Leader of the EPP Group in the Parliament Joseph Daul expects that Ashton and Van Rompuy, each in his or her function, will defend the “general European interest”. Martin Schulz, leader of the EP Socialist Group, welcomed the appointment of Ashton who, just before Thursday's summit (when Gordon Brown agreed to give up his call for Tony Blair to be appointed Council President), had become the “the” European Socialists' candidate. The Briton is a “good choice”: as a commissioner, “she has acquired experience in very complex international negotiations,” Schulz said. Ashton's appointment was “a great moment for the Party of European Socialists, as well as for the women of Europe,” said PES leader Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, adding that the Briton was “extremely well qualified” to fill the post. This opinion is not shared by European Greens. In choosing Van Rompuy and Ashton, “the leaders have continued to weaken the European institutions,” said Daniel Cohn-Bendit, joint leader of the Greens/EFA Group in the EP. “The heads of state and government have backed up their choice of a weak Commission president with the appointment of a bland Council president and an insignificant high representative for foreign affairs. Europe is on a downward spiral. The good news is that things can only improve in the future,” he said. Rebecca Harms, the other joint leader of the group, was more positive, at least with regard to Ashton. “Ms Ashton's success will depend largely on her ability to cooperate closely with the EP. She is more ready to do so than her predecessor Javier Solana,” Harms said. For the reaction of the Liberal family (ELDR), currently meeting in Congress in Barcelona, see the related article.
Formal appointment and taking up post on 1 December 2009. Thursday evening's agreement is “political”. It will, therefore, have to be formalised, by means of the written procedure, once the Lisbon Treaty comes into force, diplomats explained. Both Van Rompuy and Ashton will, then, be officially in post from that date (as is provided for in the treaty, too), but it has been agreed that Van Rompuy, currently the Belgian prime minister, will only be fully operational from 1 January 2010 (the Swedish Presidency will, therefore, be able to end “its” term of office, and Fredrik Reinfeldt will chair the European Council on 10-11 December). As for Ashton, she will wear her two hats, HR and Commission Vice-President, with effect from 1 December. Will she retain her Trade portfolio during the transition period (until the Barroso II Commission is in place at the end of January or start of February), or will Barroso decide to hand it to another commissioner? Nothing has yet been decided, the Commission says. The fact that an important WTO ministerial conference on the Doha Round is due to take place in Geneva (30 November to 2 December) suggests that Barroso will decide to leave it with Ashton. This would seem to be the most logical option, especially since Benita Ferrero-Waldner will remain in post to look after external relations, along with Ashton, until the new Commission is in place. In a statement published on Friday, Ferrero-Waldner said that the new high representative could count on her “full support” during the transition period which will last several weeks. There is also uncertainty with regard to the European Parliament which might (possibly) call for Ashton to be approved by the EP before taking up her new position as Vice-President in the current Barroso I Commission (she will, at any rate, have to be heard and confirmed by the EP as a member of the incoming Barroso II Commission in January). It is expected that Ashton and Buzek will meet in the course of the next few days to clarify the situation, the Commission spokeswoman has announced. (H.B./transl.rt)