The European Union will hold a special summit on November 19th to choose a president and foreign policy chief, the Swedish presidency said today.
Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, who is leading the appointment process, said in a statement he had decided on next Thursday as the date when the EU's 27 heads of state and government should go to Brussels to finalise their choice.
The summit follows the ratification of a treaty earlier in November which allows the EU to appoint its first long-term president and powerful foreign policy chief.
"After an introductory round of consultations with his fellow heads of state and government, Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt has decided to convene an extra informal summit on November 19th," the presidency said in a statement.
"The meeting will take the form of a working dinner in Brussels." The first president is almost certain to be a sitting or former head of government, Reinfeldt said separately in an interview with the Financial Times.
Diplomats have said there is strong backing for Belgian Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy to become Council president, but French foreign minister Bernard Kouchner said former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Luxembourg leader Jean-Claude Juncker remained in the running.
It was reported last week that the campaign of former taoiseach John Bruton remains well behind the running, with sources in Brussels and Dublin questioning his tactical approach and whether he can garner support from east European leaders.
Mr Kouchner reiterated that EU powerhouses France and Germany would support the same candidates and made no mention of who might become the EU foreign policy chief.
Although he declined to say who he supported for the office of president, he indicated that he wanted a heavy hitter. "The time has come for us to have someone who can make their weight felt not only in meetings, but in the preparation for these meetings, in the European debate," he said.
The post of president of the Council of EU leaders is being created under the Lisbon Treaty.
The high representative for foreign affairs will have enhanced powers under the treaty, to help the EU to raise its global profile and match the rise of emerging powers such as China following the economic crisis.
Meanwhile, Taoiseach Brian Cowen is considered increasingly likely to choose former minister Máire Geoghegan-Quinn for Ireland's seat on the incoming EU Commission.
Reuters