Did the State Department find out that the new EU ambassador to the US was not the expected heavy weight but a subordinate (and compatriot) of European Commission President Barroso who got the post as compensation for longstanding good service?
EU-Summits have been held one or twice a year since 1991; the most recent one took place in Washington on 3 November last year. When declining the invitation, the US also pointed to the Lisbon Treaty and the fact that it should no longer be the rotating EU Presidency, currently held by Spain, chairing these events but the President of the European Council, in other words Herman van Rompuy.
President Van Rompuy’s week was a good one. After managing ‘a wise compromise’ (according to the Financial Times) for a rescue package for Greece, the EU leaders promised to improve economic governance by an ‘economic government’ headed by Van Rompuy. He has been asked to form a special "task force" to look at "all options" for economic measures including a European Monetary Fund and an expulsion procedure for euro members that break the rules. The Council decision to ask Van Rompuy bypasses the Commission. A reprimand for Barroso’s outburst on Chancellor Merkel’s tough talk about members of the eurozone that break the rule?
More difficulties for Lady Ashton, EU’s Foreign Affairs Chief. who is setting up the new EU’s diplomatic service called External Action Service (EAS). The EU’s foreign policy priorities include climate change and energy security, which the European Commission regards as its territory and tries to keep out of the tasks for the new EU diplomacy service.
The same fight is going on in the area of EU enlargement and neighbourhood policy with the Commission trying to retain control. But for instance EU’s relationship with Turkey deserves a broader approach than the Commission is accustomed to. The political situation in Turkey, its relationship with Russia, Israel, Iraq and other Arab neighbours, the countries in the Caucasus, all need more than the Commission can offer. This is work for a professional diplomatic service such as the EAS. And for Europe’s leaders themselves: see Angela Merkel’s visit to Turkey this week and Turkish Prime-Minister Erdogan’s upcoming trip to France to meet Nicolas Sarkozy.
EU - US summits ‘only when necessary’ …
After cancellation of the planned EU-US May summit in Madrid, a policy-director within the US State Department said, during a forum in Brussels last Friday, that EU-US summits will no longer be organised automatically. A second blow by Obama for his European friends?
President Van Rompuy’s week was a good one. After managing ‘a wise compromise’ (according to the Financial Times) for a rescue package for Greece, the EU leaders promised to improve economic governance by an ‘economic government’ headed by Van Rompuy.
