Jan Peter Balkenende

Hello? Could you put me through to the EU president please?

On 19 November we finally find out who will represent Europe as president of the EU council, a new post which was created by the Lisbon treaty and which enters into force on 1 December. Lacklustre candidates, socialists and conservatives, the ping pong balls between national policies, men and women – these are some of the issues in question. Whoever it will be, the future face of Europe won’t have an easy time of gathering 27 national concerns under one hat; the EU council is also responsible for choosing the future head of diplomacy in Europe, in the post of high representative for foreign affairs

• Read the special edition Hello? Could you put me through to the EU president please?
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• 'An anti-Tony Blair, please': European press reacts prior to EU president election

Historical dinner live: on the menu, one president

Tony Blair? (or David Miliband?) Herman van Rompuy? Peter Balkenende...? The culmination of a long, outdrawn and rather undemocratic process that is shaping the future of Europe is nigh; 19 November, to be precise, and the cafebabel.com Brussels team are invited - check their blog out this evening

by Arnaud Houdmont @ // 19/11/09

jan peter balkenende, tony blair, job, herman van rompuy, eu president, politics, high representative of foreign affairs