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Fri 11 Nov 2009EU leaders overcome divisions to appoint new president
EU LEADERS overcame sharp divisions last night to appoint Belgian prime minister Herman Van Rompuy to the newly-created presidency of the European Council and choose EU trade commissioner Catherine Ashton as the bloc’s new foreign policy chief.
The compromise deal ended weeks of deadlock but the appointment of Ms Ashton, who was never elected to public office, prompted surprise and bewilderment in European politics.
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