South East MEP welcomes EU Council President & Foreign Affairs High Representative

THE South East Lib Dem MEP, Sharon Bowles, has welcomed the European Council's (EU's) decision to appoint a President of the European Council, and a High Representative for Foreign Affairs.
By The Newsroom
Published 24th Nov 2009, 15:29 BST
Updated 7th Jun 2018, 20:13 BST

The two positions were made possible by the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty on the 3rd of November and will give a face to the EU's highest offices.

Ms Bowles said: "It is good the European Council finally has a permanent President. Before the creation of this post the Presidency was a political merry-go-round chaired by member states every six months."

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The new President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, will take up the post on 1st December; a position that former Prime Minister Tony Blair had been tipped to take.

Briton, Baroness Catherine Ashton, who was the EU's Trade Commissioner, must face tough questions by the European Parliament before she secures the appointment of Foreign Affairs supremo in January 2010. This process ensures that appointees are properly scrutinised/approved by those elected to public office (MEPs).

Although pleased that former Belgian Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy had been elected as President, he had only been in office for a short period, and Ms Bowles believes it might have been better if the post had gone to a candidate that was not so involved in his/her nation at the time.

Ms Bowles said: "I am disappointed the EU has chosen an incumbent Prime Minister to be the first President of the European Council. It would have been better in my opinion to have appointed someone who has finished their service at the national level and who is not so close to their member state."

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"However, as the first Briton to chair the European Parliament's Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee, I am delighted the EU has appointed a British woman to the position of Foreign Affairs supremo. It is a key role and will hopefully create a consensus in Europe on foreign policy."

"I just hope the horse-trading for positions in the new Commission doesn't preclude the most able. Just because there is a Briton in a top job doesn't mean it's another country's 'turn' to get a job of similar influence. Jobs should be given to the best people regardless of nationality."