Brussels, 18/03/2010 (Agence Europe) - The permanent president of the European Council and the president of the Commission have come to a “practical arrangement” for EU representation at G20 and G8 summits, as well as at summits with third countries, the Commission spokeswoman announced on Thursday. “It has been decided that the EU delegation will be composed of the two presidents, Herman Van Rompuy and José Manuel Barroso, in a single delegation”, she explained. Depending on the question under discussion, “one of the two presidents will present the Union's position in relation to the competences” attributed to him by the Lisbon Treaty (Article 15 and 17). In concrete terms, this means that Barroso will take the floor each time matters come within the scope of Commission competence, for example climate change or trade. Van Rompuy will speak on matters relating to common foreign and security policy. When competences are shared (energy, for example) “intervention will be shared out in advance” during one of the weekly meetings between the two presidents. Preparations for the G20, which are traditionally entrusted to the leaders' “sherpas”, will be ensured by Barroso's personal representative. (H.B./transl.jl)