Former Irish prime minister John Bruton was named Wednesday as the EU's next ambassador in Washington, in a move the EU hopes will help continue to heal bruised transatlantic ties.

The appointment of a top-tier politician to the key post is also a signal of the European Union's commitment to punching its weight in relations with the US, the European Commission said.

"This decision reflects the joint wish of the Commission and (EU) member states to raise the profile of the EU in the United States," it said, confirming Bruton's nomination to head the Commission's Washington office.

The ex-Taoiseach will take up his post in November, in a move the EU executive said it "hopes ... will lead to a further strengthening of EU-US ties, and to deeper mutual understanding in this indispensable partnership."

Bruton, who was most recently a member of the EU convention which drafted a new constitution for the expanding bloc, will succeed German career diplomat Guenter Burghardt in the Washington post.

Relations between the EU and Washington were severely strained by the Iraq war, which was fiercely opposed by traditional EU heavyweights led by France and Germany.

Irish Foreign Minister Brian Cowen said the appointment was good news. "His nomination as EU ambassador in Washington is a very positive development for Europe, and an honour for Ireland," he said.

"It underlines that a strong transatlantic relationship ... is essential for prosperity and growth on both sides of the Atlantic," he added.