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EU top jobs jigsaw puzzle falls into place

15 July 2014, 16:15 CET
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(BRUSSELS) - EU leaders are set to tackle the jigsaw of the bloc's top jobs after the European Parliament approved former Luxembourg premier Jean-Claude Juncker as head of the European Commission Tuesday.

First up will be who chairs the European Council, which represents the union's 28 leaders and sets out its overall political direction, and the high-profile post of foreign affairs chief, currently held by Britain's Catherine Ashton.

The outcome depends on a delicate balance pitting right against left, north against south, east versus west, and more than ever, men against women in a quest for the posts determining the EU's future for the next five years.

EU FOREIGN POLICY CHIEF

The European External Action Service was created by the 2009 Lisbon Treaty, to give focus to the much-enlarged EU's international role and interests.

It coordinates the EU's foreign and defence policy priorities, a difficult mission given that many member states, especially the biggest ones such as Britain and France, are notoriously protective of their own place in the world.

Formally known as the EU's "High Representative", Britain's Ashton has played a major role in many of the top international issues, from the Middle East to Iran nuclear talks and the crisis in Ukraine.

Among possible replacements, Italian Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini appears the favourite but she is relatively inexperienced and some members, especially the Baltic states and Poland, feel Rome has been too soft on Russia over Ukraine.

An alternative would be current EU Humanitarian Aid Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva of Bulgaria who is close to the centre-right European People's Party, the biggest single group in the European Parliament.

CHAIR OF THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL

The Council is the political arm of the EU, bringing together member state leaders and their top officials to make the bloc's overall policy decisions, which are then implemented by the European Commission, the executive arm.

The Council chair, a post also created in 2009, is currently held by Belgium's Christian Democrat Herman Van Rompuy, a former premier who has proven to be an adept negotiator and conciliator, essential qualities when searching for an often elusive consensus among the 28 political leaders.

Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt, a moderate who is supported by many nations including Britain, is widely talked of as a possible successor, though her country is not a member of the single currency eurozone, a major drawback.

On the right, Irish Premier Enda Kenny and former Latvian prime minister Valdis Dombrovskis are other names mentioned, while for the Liberals former Estonian leader Andrus Ansip or Dutch premier Mark Rutte would suit.

EUROGROUP HEAD

The now 18 members of the euro single currency bloc, which includes all the biggest economies except Britain, meet regularly in the Eurogroup of finance ministers to coordinate policy in order to present a united front to the financial markets.

The group emerged in 1997 in the run-up to the formal launch of the euro and in 2005 was given a permanent administration, and a leader chosen from among its finance ministers -- a position first taken by Juncker who stepped down only last year.

The debt crisis nearly sank the eurozone but with member states now confident the worst is over, calls have increased to give the Eurogroup a permanent leader from outside the ranks of the finance ministers.

Current Eurogroup head, Jeroen Dijsselbloem, had a difficult start, being forced to organise an international debt bailout for Cyprus, but since then the Dutchman has won plaudits for his businesslike approach and readiness to seek compromise.

However, it seems likely he will be replaced by current Spanish Finance Minister Luis de Guindos, who has overseen Madrid's tough austerity policies and negotiated EU aid for its crippled banking system.

Spain's hard line has gone down particularly well with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, perhaps the most powerful voice in the EU and guardian of fiscal rectitude.


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