Doubts on Yesterday’s EU Leaders Election

Herman Van Rompuy and Catherine Ashton are the new President and Head of Foreign Policy of the European Union

Last night Herman Van Rompuy, Belgian Prime Minister, and Catherine Ashton, European Commissioner for Trade, were elected as new President and Head of Foreign Policy of the European Union respectively.

Public opinion has been quick to assess the election of Van Rompuy and Asthon, which have been described as unknown and inexperienced for their respective positions.

EFP already noted that Van Rompuy was one of the favorites, not because his international credentials but for the support offered by powerful countries within the EU like France and Germany.
Beside this, the Belgian is not a high-profile politician nor he played a very important role in the election and he is then a “safe” choice as he will probably not put in the shade the leaders of European powers.

In regard to Ms. Ashton, many have felt that the greatest advantage she has been is that she is a woman. In addition, Gordon Brown attempts to carry Tony Blair to the Presidency of the EU Council were unsuccessful and so, Brown changed Blair candidacy with Ashton one.

It was known the importance of British role in this new EU: Javier Solana, former Head of Foreign Policy for the Union, declared last summer that the European Union cannot have a credible foreign policy without Britain because they have that kind of “global approach” too many of the other Member States still lack.

Thus, the result of all these political intricacies has been that now the EU has two new inexperienced persons in international politics for two positions *probably* more institutional than functional.