Australia welcomes new EU appointments
(SYDNEY) - Australia on Saturday welcomed the appointment of the European Union's first president and said it looked forward to deeper, stronger relations.
On Thursday, the 27-member EU selected Belgian Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy as its first full-time president, while it also chose Baroness Catherine Ashton to be high representative for foreign policy.
Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith congratulated the pair and said in a statement: "The creation of the new positions will strengthen the EU's voice in international relations.
"There is much the European Union and Australia can do together. We are like-minded on many of the pressing international challenges of our time."
"The government continues to be strongly committed to enhancing further Australia's relations with Europe and the European Union ... I look forward to working with Baroness Ashton to strengthen and deepen that cooperation."
Both appointments will begin in December.
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