Yesterday late evening, EU heads of state and government agreed at their informal meeting in Brussels on the candidates for President of the European Council and High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
Yesterday late evening, EU heads of state and government agreed at their informal meeting in Brussels on the candidates for President of the European Council and High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. The two top posts have been created by the Lisbon Treaty in a reformed European Union.
Belgian Prime Minister Herman van Rompuy was named the first permanent President of the European Council elected for two and a half years.
"Herman van Rompuy is a person who can find common solutions in very difficult situations. It is an experience of great importance for Europe. In addition, Belgium is a truly European country that well understands the concerns of small member states. Therefore, a Belgian representative will be beneficial to Lithuania," President Grybauskaitė said after the meeting.
Briton Catherine Ashton, currently in charge of external trade in the European Commission, will take up the post of High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
According to President Grybauskaitė, Catherine Ashton has huge international experience. Eighteen months ago she successfully replaced Peter Mandelson as European Commissioner for Trade.
"When I was EU Commissioner, I has been fortunate to work with Catherine Ashton for almost a year. I hope that such contacts and experience will be useful to me in the future and serve the interests of Lithuania," President Grybauskaitė said.