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EU leaders to appoint president next week

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-11-11 16:53

STOCKHOLM: The Swedish European Union presidency on Wednesday called a summit next week at which leaders are expected to fill three newly created positions, including a permanent EU president job.

The summit will take place on November 19 in Brussels, Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt said in a brief statement.

He said it is hoped that leaders can agree on the appointment of the new positions created by the 27-member bloc's reform treaty. They are a new permanent president of the European Council, a high representative for foreign affairs and a secretary-general for the Council secretariat.

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Reinfeldt's spokeswoman Roberta Alenius said the premier began consulting with fellow heads of states and government last week.

"There are many names right now, but there is no clear favorite," Alenius said, adding Reinfeldt will make a second round of calls this week to be able to present candidates at the summit.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has pushed for his predecessor, Tony Blair, to be appointed EU president despite reservations among some European counterparts.

Smaller nations favor appointing someone from their ranks, while the leaders of major countries are thought unlikely to back a high-profile figure like Blair, who could overshadow them on the world stage.

Brown said Tuesday that British Foreign Secretary David Miliband would not become a candidate to take over a role as the organization's spokesman on foreign affairs and defense.

Other names mentioned in speculation for the EU president job include Dutch premier Jan Peter Balkenende, Belgian leader Herman Van Rompuy, Luxembourg's Jean-Claude Juncker and Finnish ex-premier Paavo Lipponen. Former Latvian president Vaira Vike-Freiberga and former Irish president Mary Robinson are among the women being mentioned.