03/01/2011 (Agence Europe) - EU member states have backed Claude-France Arnould as the European Defence Agency (EDA) executive director. Arnould is currently head of the planning and crisis management directorate. Despite being proposed by the EU high representative, her candidacy had been blocked by the Italian delegation which wanted to see its own candidate take this post (see EUROPE 10274). Following a further period of consultation, Italy did not propose an alternative candidate and...