Category: EU Updates

On 19 November 2009 an extraordinary meeting of the Council of the European Union finally selected the first ever permanent President of the European Council and the High Representative for Foreign Affairs, in offices that were created by the Lisbon Treaty. The positions will be filled by now former Belgian Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy and the UK’s Baroness Catherine Ashton.

The choice of Baroness Ashton was welcomed by those who called for a greater gender balance in the EU’s executive roles. The appointments generated mixed responses as neither candidate has a high international profile. However, one strong supporter was German Chancellor Angela Merkel who said that Mr Van Rompuy would bring consensus to the European Council. The United States also voiced support, with President Barack Obama saying that the selection would "strengthen the EU and enable it to be an even stronger partner to the United States".

It has also been a busy time at the European Commission as on 27 November President Jose Manuel Barroso announced which portfolios he had selected for the new line up of Commissioners-designate, an announcement that has been much delayed due to the delay in implementing the Lisbon Treaty. According to Article 17 of the Lisbon Treaty, it is Barros as the President of the EC who makes the final decision on the organisation of the European Commission,

The following appointments are of particular interest to EUBINGO:

• Michel Barnier of France has been designated the post Internal Market Commissioner, a key position within the executive body of the EU
• Joaquin Almunia of Spain will become Competition Commissioner - another much-sought after role in the Commission.
• John Dalli of Malta has been appointed Commissioner-designate for Health and Consumer Policy. This will be his first time serving as a Commissioner.

The final positions and designated portfolios will not be confirmed until the Commissioners-designate have appeared before MEPs in European Parliament for individual hearings, expected to take place on 11 January 2010. The MEPS will then vote on accepting the proposed Commission a few days later.

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