A LOOK BEHIND THE NEWS / A look behind the news, by ferdinando riccardi

Van Rompuy assumes permanent presidency of European Council and expresses some clear ideas about how this body should function as an EU institution

Firmness and wisdom. 2010 does not in itself imply any significant institutional innovations in the EU - with one very important exception - given that the Lisbon Treaty is already in force; the high representative/permanent president of the Foreign Affairs Council has already taken up his role; and that the “Barroso II” European Commission is awaiting Parliament's investiture so that it can be formally appointed. This exception is the permament president of the European Council. Herman Van...