Sweden proposes Cecilia Malmstroem as Commissioner
(STOCKHOLM) - Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt announced on Tuesday EU Affairs Minister Cecilia Malmstroem as his choice for Sweden's next EU commissioner.
Malmstroem's nomination bars the way for Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt to be named as the EU's new top diplomat.
His name had circulated in European diplomatic circles as a possible choice for the next EU high representative for foreign affairs, one of the EU's two new top jobs to be decided at summit on Thursday.
The EU's high representative for foreign affairs is also a member and vice-president of the commission, and there is only one commissioner per EU country.
"In my opinion, there will not be a Swedish high representative," Reinfeldt told reporters when asked about Sweden's chances to nab the post, also excluding the possibility of Malmstroem getting one of the two top jobs.
Aged 41, Malmstroem has been Sweden's minister for EU affairs since Reinfeldt's centre-right coalition came to power in 2006. She is a member of the Liberal party and was a member of the European Parliament from 1999 to 2006.
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