EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - A deal struck by EU leaders in Brussels on Thursday evening (19 November) marked the latest step of an improbable rise by two erstwhile little-known politicians. Controversy over government meddling in a court case surrounding the breakup of the cross-border bank, Fortis, late last year saw Herman Van Rompuy unexpectedly catapulted into the role of Belgian prime minister....He has been supportive of stimulus spending, despite presiding over a country with one of Europe's highest debt-to-GDP ratios, and on Thursday night said battling the "anxiety and uncertainty" triggered by the financial crisis and fighting climate change will be his top priorities.More controversially, comments made by the Belgian leader in 2004, when in opposition, suggest he does not favour the prospect of Turkey joining the EU, drawing concerns from Turkish politicians following his appointment to the council presidency post. ...Ms Ashton's rise could possibly be described as being even less expected... she has won plaudits for her trade negotiations, recently securing a free-trade agreement with South Korea, considered the jewel in the EU's crown of bilateral deals.She has also worked hard to kick-start the stalled multilateral Doha trade negotiations and recently made good progress in resolving a long-running dispute with several Latin American countries over bananas.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - A deal struck by EU leaders in Brussels on Thursday evening (19 November) marked the latest step of an improbable rise by two erstwhile little-known politicians.
Controversy over government meddling in a court case surrounding the breakup of the cross-border bank, Fortis, late last year saw Herman Van Rompuy unexpectedly catapulted into the role of Belgian prime minister.
...He has been supportive of stimulus spending, despite presiding over a country with one of Europe's highest debt-to-GDP ratios, and on Thursday night said battling the "anxiety and uncertainty" triggered by the financial crisis and fighting climate change will be his top priorities.
More controversially, comments made by the Belgian leader in 2004, when in opposition, suggest he does not favour the prospect of Turkey joining the EU, drawing concerns from Turkish politicians following his appointment to the council presidency post.
...Ms Ashton's rise could possibly be described as being even less expected... she has won plaudits for her trade negotiations, recently securing a free-trade agreement with South Korea, considered the jewel in the EU's crown of bilateral deals.
She has also worked hard to kick-start the stalled multilateral Doha trade negotiations and recently made good progress in resolving a long-running dispute with several Latin American countries over bananas.
(BTW, did van Rompuy repeat that about Turkey now, or is Cohn-Bendit talking about quotes of his 2004 remarks?) *Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
Traian Basescu, the Romanian incumbent president, is to be blamed for the fact that Adrian Severin was not elected EU's Foreign Affairs minister. This is the statement of the Social-Democratic Party National Council president Adrian Nastase for RFI. The ex-Prime Minister claims that the European socialist did not receive support from the chief of state in order to become a High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs.
France is expecting to get the internal market and financial services portfolio in the next European Commission following its support for a Briton winning the post of EU foreign policy chief. French daily Le Monde writes that Michel Barnier, a former farm minister who has already served as a EU commissioner, will also be a vice-president of the institution.
France is expecting to get the internal market and financial services portfolio in the next European Commission following its support for a Briton winning the post of EU foreign policy chief.
French daily Le Monde writes that Michel Barnier, a former farm minister who has already served as a EU commissioner, will also be a vice-president of the institution.
The appointment of Belgian Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy to the post of President of the European council and British Commissioner for Trade Catherine Ashton as High Representative for Foreign Affairs has not been well received by European press, which was hoping for more charismatic European representatives. "Europe is stunned," announces Austria's Die Presse, which takes issue with the appointment of a two "unknowns" -- or two "stop-gaps" as Der Spiegel dubs them -- to the new key posts in the EU. In Portugal, Diário de Notícias, which is similarly unimpressed, notes that representatives of Europe's member states took only half an hour to elect the "anonymous duo who are almost unknown outside of their own countries" to the positions where they will now "take charge of the destiny of the EU." "European leaders have adopted the suicidal tactic of basing an agreement on the lowest common denominator," complains La Repubblica, which further avers that "as Henry Kissinger put it, Europe has now been provided with a telephone number, but if we cannot field a better team to take the calls, no one is likely to dial it." For the Rome daily, anyone seeking "a face and phone number for Europe will call Angela Merkel, and and shy away from Herman Van Rompuy and the even more avoidable Baroness Ashton." In Poland, Rzeczpospolita ironically introduces the new EU President to our allies: "Dear Americans, here's Mr. Europe 2009 -- Herman Van Rompuy." The Warsaw-based daily expects the transatlantic line to his office to be abuzz with fruitful discussion on "the war on terror, CO2 emissions and the tackling the economic crisis." In a more bitter attack, another Polish daily Gazeta Wyborcza simply wonders "if it was worth fighting the battle for the Lisbon Treaty to hand the new jobs to two weaklings."
The appointment of Belgian Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy to the post of President of the European council and British Commissioner for Trade Catherine Ashton as High Representative for Foreign Affairs has not been well received by European press, which was hoping for more charismatic European representatives.
"Europe is stunned," announces Austria's Die Presse, which takes issue with the appointment of a two "unknowns" -- or two "stop-gaps" as Der Spiegel dubs them -- to the new key posts in the EU. In Portugal, Diário de Notícias, which is similarly unimpressed, notes that representatives of Europe's member states took only half an hour to elect the "anonymous duo who are almost unknown outside of their own countries" to the positions where they will now "take charge of the destiny of the EU."
"European leaders have adopted the suicidal tactic of basing an agreement on the lowest common denominator," complains La Repubblica, which further avers that "as Henry Kissinger put it, Europe has now been provided with a telephone number, but if we cannot field a better team to take the calls, no one is likely to dial it." For the Rome daily, anyone seeking "a face and phone number for Europe will call Angela Merkel, and and shy away from Herman Van Rompuy and the even more avoidable Baroness Ashton." In Poland, Rzeczpospolita ironically introduces the new EU President to our allies: "Dear Americans, here's Mr. Europe 2009 -- Herman Van Rompuy." The Warsaw-based daily expects the transatlantic line to his office to be abuzz with fruitful discussion on "the war on terror, CO2 emissions and the tackling the economic crisis." In a more bitter attack, another Polish daily Gazeta Wyborcza simply wonders "if it was worth fighting the battle for the Lisbon Treaty to hand the new jobs to two weaklings."
With her appointment as the EU High Representative for Foreign Policy, Catherine Ashton has become overnight one of the world's most powerful women. But her role, considered even more prestigious than that of EU President, is not without pitfalls, reports Der Spiegel. The foreign minister, who will represent the continent on the global stage and act as the voice of the 27 member countries would become Javier Solana's heir as secretary-general of the Council and, at the same time, take over the portfolio of the EU foreign commissioner and serve as the vice president of the European Commission. No one has ever held a seat in both institutions, the Council and the Commission. To achieve this mission, a powerful administration will be placed at Catherine Ashton's disposal, something which promises to be both expensive and enormous. The new "European External Action Service" could end up with a staff of 6,000 to 7,000 eurocrats. The EU would acquire yet another bloated bureaucracy -- without eliminating a single permanent position in the foreign ministries of the 27 member states.
With her appointment as the EU High Representative for Foreign Policy, Catherine Ashton has become overnight one of the world's most powerful women. But her role, considered even more prestigious than that of EU President, is not without pitfalls, reports Der Spiegel.
The foreign minister, who will represent the continent on the global stage and act as the voice of the 27 member countries would become Javier Solana's heir as secretary-general of the Council and, at the same time, take over the portfolio of the EU foreign commissioner and serve as the vice president of the European Commission. No one has ever held a seat in both institutions, the Council and the Commission. To achieve this mission, a powerful administration will be placed at Catherine Ashton's disposal, something which promises to be both expensive and enormous. The new "European External Action Service" could end up with a staff of 6,000 to 7,000 eurocrats. The EU would acquire yet another bloated bureaucracy -- without eliminating a single permanent position in the foreign ministries of the 27 member states.
Gordon Brown has been accused of putting Britain's economic interest at risk by accepting the "wrong" European Union job. Critics said he had sacrificed a powerful economic post in the European Commission in favour of installing Baroness Ashton as the first EU foreign minister. It opens the way for Michel Barnier, a centre-right French politician, to be named the next internal market commissioner overseeing financial regulation next month.Mr Barnier, a former commissioner, is well known as defender of French protectionism and is hostile to the "Anglo-Saxon" free market model of capitalism. The prospect has alarmed the City of London, where many banks fear the imposition of new EU regulations on the financial services sector.
Critics said he had sacrificed a powerful economic post in the European Commission in favour of installing Baroness Ashton as the first EU foreign minister.
It opens the way for Michel Barnier, a centre-right French politician, to be named the next internal market commissioner overseeing financial regulation next month.
Mr Barnier, a former commissioner, is well known as defender of French protectionism and is hostile to the "Anglo-Saxon" free market model of capitalism.
The prospect has alarmed the City of London, where many banks fear the imposition of new EU regulations on the financial services sector.
Herman Van Rompuy: quirky exterior conceals sharp operator - Telegraph
Herman Van Rompuy's quirky exterior conceals a ruthless political operator who will stop at nothing to get his way as president of the European Union. During his candidacy, he was portrayed as the perfect conciliator with valuable experience as Belgium's Prime Minister of bridging the divide between the warring Flemish and Walloon communities and holding his country together. The "ideal candidate", said Nicolas Sarkozy, the French President, for bring "consensus and cohesion" to a fractious EU of 27 member states. In reality, and behind his harmless, eccentric and literary persona, Mr Van Rompuy, 62, is a sharp political operator who is not above using dirty tricks to stymie his opponents.Europe's leaders may find to their cost that the man they chose to chair their EU summits possesses dark arts that will be turned against anyone, such as an incoming Conservative prime minister, who challenges the Brussels consensus.Last year, six months before becoming prime minister, he abused his position as speaker of the Belgian parliament to cancel a politically inconvenient debate. To make doubly sure that MPs would be silenced, he had the locks on the plenary chamber's doors changed so deputies could not get into their own parliament. The tactic was described by opposition MPs as a "coup d'etat".
During his candidacy, he was portrayed as the perfect conciliator with valuable experience as Belgium's Prime Minister of bridging the divide between the warring Flemish and Walloon communities and holding his country together.
The "ideal candidate", said Nicolas Sarkozy, the French President, for bring "consensus and cohesion" to a fractious EU of 27 member states.
In reality, and behind his harmless, eccentric and literary persona, Mr Van Rompuy, 62, is a sharp political operator who is not above using dirty tricks to stymie his opponents.
Europe's leaders may find to their cost that the man they chose to chair their EU summits possesses dark arts that will be turned against anyone, such as an incoming Conservative prime minister, who challenges the Brussels consensus.
Last year, six months before becoming prime minister, he abused his position as speaker of the Belgian parliament to cancel a politically inconvenient debate. To make doubly sure that MPs would be silenced, he had the locks on the plenary chamber's doors changed so deputies could not get into their own parliament. The tactic was described by opposition MPs as a "coup d'etat".
you are the media you consume.
Besides, the EU's ongoing Satanic conspiracy to bring about the New World Order needed someone robustly uncanny.
Hence Van Rompuy and Ashton, who are the very personifications of cosmic evil.
Choice of European council president seen as move to block Turkish accession to EUEurope's new president, Herman Van Rompuy, faced a furious backlash in Turkey yesterday amid reports of his hostility to the country's EU membership.Suat Kiniklioglu, an influential member of the ruling Justice and Development party (AKP), told the Guardian there was "widespread Turkish sentiment" that Van Rompuy would harm Turkey's European aspirations and suggested that France and Germany had championed him for that reason."We are concerned," said Kiniklioglu, a member of the Turkish parliament's foreign affairs committee and the AKP's deputy chairman for external affairs."This man has made it very clear that he doesn't want to see Turkey in the European Union. What is even sadder is that he is making that argument on the basis of the supposed Christian values of the union. That's not the type of union we envisage. The values we envisage are of democracy, transparency, human rights and the rule of law."
Europe's new president, Herman Van Rompuy, faced a furious backlash in Turkey yesterday amid reports of his hostility to the country's EU membership.
Suat Kiniklioglu, an influential member of the ruling Justice and Development party (AKP), told the Guardian there was "widespread Turkish sentiment" that Van Rompuy would harm Turkey's European aspirations and suggested that France and Germany had championed him for that reason.
"We are concerned," said Kiniklioglu, a member of the Turkish parliament's foreign affairs committee and the AKP's deputy chairman for external affairs.
"This man has made it very clear that he doesn't want to see Turkey in the European Union. What is even sadder is that he is making that argument on the basis of the supposed Christian values of the union. That's not the type of union we envisage. The values we envisage are of democracy, transparency, human rights and the rule of law."
Muted reaction suggests global community would have preferred Blair, reports John LichfieldLimp waves of polite puzzlement circled the globe yesterday as leaders adjusted to the news that the much ballyhooed EU President would be a mild-mannered, competent manager rather than a charismatic new "face" for Europe. The US President, Barack Obama, said that he "looked forward to working closely" with both the new European Council President, Herman van Rompuy, and the EU's first foreign minister, Baroness Ashton. He said the "two new positions" would make the European Union an "even stronger partner to the United States". It was noticeable, however, that President Obama also declared that he intended to "work closely" with the European Commission President, Jose Manuel Barroso - a tacit recognition that there had been no real landslip in power and influence in Brussels.
Limp waves of polite puzzlement circled the globe yesterday as leaders adjusted to the news that the much ballyhooed EU President would be a mild-mannered, competent manager rather than a charismatic new "face" for Europe.
The US President, Barack Obama, said that he "looked forward to working closely" with both the new European Council President, Herman van Rompuy, and the EU's first foreign minister, Baroness Ashton. He said the "two new positions" would make the European Union an "even stronger partner to the United States".
It was noticeable, however, that President Obama also declared that he intended to "work closely" with the European Commission President, Jose Manuel Barroso - a tacit recognition that there had been no real landslip in power and influence in Brussels.
much ballyhooed EU President
Ballyhooed by pundits like John Lichfield. The noise about a "big" president was entirely in the Blair campaign's interest. Who else was talking about it?
Fran:
there had been no real landslip in power and influence in Brussels.
There was never meant to be, except in the dreams of (see above).
Herman who? The world greets new EU President - Europe, World - The Independent
The man who created the idea of a "European President", the former French president, Valéry Giscard d'Estaing,
Historically inexact. Chirac probably first mooted it, followed immediately and with enthusiasm by none other than Tony Blair.
According to a snap, EU-wide opinion poll, European citizens were non-plussed by, but largely indifferent to, the choice of Mr Van Rompuy. The international polling agency Proximity Panels, said that Mr Van Rompuy's name rang a bell with only one in eight Europeans compared to seven in 10 for Mr Blair. One in three EU citizens would have favoured Mr Blair for "President of Europe", compared to one in 20 for Mr Van Rompuy.
"Snap" you bet. Who put money behind this? Where are the questions? How was it organized? And "President of Europe" is a dead giveaway.
John Lichfield, Blairite concern troll and useless foreign correspondent.
This is Steven Deketelaere speaking, chairman of Proximity Panels. We organised the 17-country study about the EU-president, about which you expressed some doubts on this tribune.
All details about this study can be found on www.proximitypanels.com. All technical details are there at your disposal.
In case you need some extra feedback, please contact me on steven.deketelaere@proximitypanels.com.
Just for your info: As from November 2009 Proximity Panels was founded. Proximity Panels "unites the best of local research panels worldwide.
As a PR-promo stunt, Proximity Panels decided to organise an international opinion poll concerning the election of the first European President. It did so at this speed of light: the entire set-up, national media-partner search for exclusive publication of the results, fieldwork and last but not least data-analysis & reporting, only took 5 working days in total. The initiative was launched on November 11, 2009. Since there was as tight deadline, decision on the first EU-President by the European top politicians is foreseen on November 19th in Brussels, this was the ideal occasion to launch Proximity Panels publicly since it had to go fast so high-performance level could be proven and since Proximity Panels is a European initiative founded by European companies for which the event of a First EU-President is not just very interesting for an opinion poll but also very symbolic.
Best regards,
Steven Deketelaere
Based on the results a large European opinion study from the international opinion polling agency Proximity Panels, it became apparent that the Belgian Prime Minister, Herman Van Rompuy, is only known by 12% of the European citizens. The name Tony Blair (UK) on the other hand rings a bell for 70% of the European citizens. Second best, but lagging behind, is Mary Robinson from Ireland who is known by 1 out of 5 Europeans (19%). The number 1 favorite candidate by far is Tony Blair. Almost 1/3 of the Europeans are convinced he makes an ideal candidate. The Belgian Herman Van Rompuy only appeals to 5% or 1 out of 20. On the other hand, the fact that he is Belgian seems to make up for it, since only 1% vetoes a Belgian candidate, whereas putting a Brit in charge would be a bad move according to 16% of the Europeans.
The number 1 favorite candidate by far is Tony Blair. Almost 1/3 of the Europeans are convinced he makes an ideal candidate. The Belgian Herman Van Rompuy only appeals to 5% or 1 out of 20.
On the other hand, the fact that he is Belgian seems to make up for it, since only 1% vetoes a Belgian candidate, whereas putting a Brit in charge would be a bad move according to 16% of the Europeans.
First of all, let me point out that I was responding to John Lichfield's quote of your poll. And he is wrong on two points:
Your poll further skews the issue by referring exclusively to the post of "European President". This post does not exist. It's "President of the European Council". The difference is not trivial. The compromise that resulted from the negotiations on the Constitutional Treaty (that became the Lisbon Treaty) was that this post should not be a "big" one in which a high-profile politician would draw power towards himself, but a lower-profile one that called for a more modest figure capable of advancing the work of the European Council and finding agreement between the member states. (You'll find backing for this in a piece I wrote, A-B-C, The Seven Dwarfs, And The Giant Bird).
So when your poll refers to the European President, you are not asking the right question. You are presupposing the "big" presidential position Blair would have liked to have, and not the lower-profile reality. (This is what I meant by saying "President of Europe" is a dead giveaway). This unfortunately slants your poll (whether you meant this or not) in a direction favourable to the big celebrity, Tony Blair.
We too organized something around this new appointment. As unpaid volunteers (European Tribune is not a business) a small group of us ran an online petition. We did this with no budget at all, and no advertising. Even in these conditions, the Stop Blair! petition gathered over 45,000 signatures, of which well over 43,000 are from all EU nationalities, against Blair's appointment. Not the same as a poll? No, but significative all the same of a strong current of anti-Blair feeling across the EU.
As Herman Van Rompuy and Catherine Ashton blink in the unfamiliar glare of media attention, world leaders have been trying to foresee the impact of the new pair on international politics. If there is one. The official global reactions to the choices, made with such surprising swiftness on Thursday night, have been predictably bland. "I warmly congratulate President Van Rompuy and my new counterpart High Representative Ashton," US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said in her official statement, before adding: "I look forward to working closely with them to strengthen and broaden our partnership." Despite the unknown nature of the two new names, there has been very little concern among world leaders about what effect they will have. As far as the personalities of the appointees go, few people fear that they will rock the boat of international diplomacy. Van Rompuy effectively confirmed as much in his acceptance speech, in which he presented himself as a mediator. Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: Ashton has some urgent networking to do The European Union, apparently, is not as serious as it had made out about asserting itself on a world stage.
The official global reactions to the choices, made with such surprising swiftness on Thursday night, have been predictably bland.
"I warmly congratulate President Van Rompuy and my new counterpart High Representative Ashton," US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said in her official statement, before adding: "I look forward to working closely with them to strengthen and broaden our partnership."
Despite the unknown nature of the two new names, there has been very little concern among world leaders about what effect they will have. As far as the personalities of the appointees go, few people fear that they will rock the boat of international diplomacy. Van Rompuy effectively confirmed as much in his acceptance speech, in which he presented himself as a mediator.
Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: Ashton has some urgent networking to do
The European Union, apparently, is not as serious as it had made out about asserting itself on a world stage.
The poor relationship between Lord Mandelson and his successor as Trade Commissioner is an open secret at the top levels of the Government. Although he has kept his contempt private, Baroness Ashton of Upholland let her view slip when she was interviewed last year after replacing him. "Everyone has their own style," she began. "Peter did a fantastic job in my view, but I bring a different style. For some people, that style is more what they're looking for." For those failing to draw the distinction, she added: "I don't know any oligarchs. I don't think I've ever been on anyone's yacht." It is little surprise, then, that the First Secretary had other choices in mind when it came to deciding who should secure Britain's place in the new Commission. But the dismay on both sides of the Channel after she was confirmed victorious goes wider than personal animosity.
The poor relationship between Lord Mandelson and his successor as Trade Commissioner is an open secret at the top levels of the Government.
Although he has kept his contempt private, Baroness Ashton of Upholland let her view slip when she was interviewed last year after replacing him. "Everyone has their own style," she began. "Peter did a fantastic job in my view, but I bring a different style. For some people, that style is more what they're looking for."
For those failing to draw the distinction, she added: "I don't know any oligarchs. I don't think I've ever been on anyone's yacht."
It is little surprise, then, that the First Secretary had other choices in mind when it came to deciding who should secure Britain's place in the new Commission. But the dismay on both sides of the Channel after she was confirmed victorious goes wider than personal animosity.
With the European Union's top new jobs going to two low-key bridge-builders, the bloc appears to have set its sights on smoothing over internal divisions before trying to construct a bigger global role.The combination of Belgium's prime minister, Herman Van Rompuy, for the bloc's presidential post and Catherine Ashton, the European commissioner for trade, who is British, as foreign policy chief leaves the Union without the high-profile leadership for which many had yearned.The duo look set to tread a pragmatic path, and supporters said the bloc needed to walk before it could run on the international stage."In some ways, the E.U. craving for star-quality leaders was like trying to cover the lack of substance with appearances," said Adam Jasser in an analysis for demosEUROPA, a research institution based in Warsaw. "Whether Europe will be treated seriously or not by the outside world depends on its ability to speak with one voice and get its priorities sorted out."
The combination of Belgium's prime minister, Herman Van Rompuy, for the bloc's presidential post and Catherine Ashton, the European commissioner for trade, who is British, as foreign policy chief leaves the Union without the high-profile leadership for which many had yearned.
The duo look set to tread a pragmatic path, and supporters said the bloc needed to walk before it could run on the international stage.
"In some ways, the E.U. craving for star-quality leaders was like trying to cover the lack of substance with appearances," said Adam Jasser in an analysis for demosEUROPA, a research institution based in Warsaw. "Whether Europe will be treated seriously or not by the outside world depends on its ability to speak with one voice and get its priorities sorted out."
