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In Nod to Eastern Europe, E.U. Names Poland Premier to Key Post In Nod to Eastern Europe, E.U. Names Poland Premier to Key Post
(35 minutes later)
BRUSSELS — The European Union selected an Eastern European to one of the bloc’s top posts for the first time on Saturday as tensions increased with Russia over its incursions into Ukraine. BRUSSELS — The European Union selected an Eastern European to one of the bloc’s top posts for the first time on Saturday as tensions increased with Russia over its incursions into Ukraine.
European leaders named Prime Minister Donald Tusk of Poland to replace Herman Van Rompuy of Belgium as the president of the European Council, the body that sets the agenda for summit meetings and helps represent the bloc at international gatherings.European leaders named Prime Minister Donald Tusk of Poland to replace Herman Van Rompuy of Belgium as the president of the European Council, the body that sets the agenda for summit meetings and helps represent the bloc at international gatherings.
The leaders also selected Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini of Italy as the bloc’s new foreign policy chief to replace Catherine Ashton of Britain.The leaders also selected Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini of Italy as the bloc’s new foreign policy chief to replace Catherine Ashton of Britain.
“The new European leadership team is complete,” Mr. Van Rompuy said Saturday.“The new European leadership team is complete,” Mr. Van Rompuy said Saturday.
But the laborious selection process raised further questions about the capacity of the European Union to confront its many challenges, including renewed signs of economic stagnation, the rise of populist movements opposed to the European Union and the confrontation with Russia.But the laborious selection process raised further questions about the capacity of the European Union to confront its many challenges, including renewed signs of economic stagnation, the rise of populist movements opposed to the European Union and the confrontation with Russia.
Leaders failed to reach consensus at an earlier summit in July because of competing demands among the fractious members for the jobs.Leaders failed to reach consensus at an earlier summit in July because of competing demands among the fractious members for the jobs.
Ms. Mogherini faced months of sniping from leaders in Central and Eastern Europe that she may be too inexperienced for the post and overly conciliatory toward Russia. In July, President Dalia Grybauskaite of Lithuania, suggested Ms. Mogherini was “pro-Kremlin oriented.” Ms. Mogherini, 41, faced months of sniping from leaders in Central and Eastern Europe that she may be too inexperienced for the post and overly conciliatory toward Russia. In July, President Dalia Grybauskaite of Lithuania, suggested Ms. Mogherini was “pro-Kremlin oriented.”
Yet she had the strong backing of Italy’s Prime Minister Matteo Renzi. Mr. Renzi won a strong mandate in European elections in May and whose country currently holds the rotating presidency of the European Union.Yet she had the strong backing of Italy’s Prime Minister Matteo Renzi. Mr. Renzi won a strong mandate in European elections in May and whose country currently holds the rotating presidency of the European Union.
Ms. Mogherini, 41, will lead the European External Action Service established by the Treaty of Lisbon, which went into force in 2009. The idea behind the service was to forge a more coherent foreign policy for the bloc. But Germany, Britain and France have zealously guarded their influence in foreign policy, limiting the bloc’s authority. Ms. Mogherini said her age showed a “new generation” of European leaders was emerging. She said her visit to Moscow early this year to meet President Vladimir V. Putin was meant to “facilitate a form of dialogue,” but she acknowledged that recent events showed “it’s not the case” that such an approach had so far yielded results.
The selection of Mr. Tusk, 57, is the latest sign that Poland is emerging as a larger player in European affairs, particularly on issues involving the bloc’s eastern front. His government has been among the most vocal critics of Russia’s activities in Ukraine, even calling for a larger Western military presence in Poland and other former Eastern Bloc states.“In the minds of many people in Brussels, they are all watching with despair the developments in Ukraine and not really understanding what is happening and what sort of approach is needed,” said Marcin Zaborowski, director of the Polish Institute of International Affairs. “So this is a sign that they understand that a stronger voice on these issues is needed.” Ms. Mogherini will lead the European External Action Service established by the Treaty of Lisbon, which went into force in 2009. The idea behind the service was to forge a more coherent foreign policy for the bloc. But Germany, Britain and France have zealously guarded their influence in foreign policy, limiting the bloc’s authority.
“The nomination of Ms. Mogherini shows that there’s really no appetite among leaders to have a heavyweight in Brussels leading on foreign policy,” said Jan Techau, the director of Carnegie Europe, a research organization in Brussels.
The selection of Mr. Tusk, 57, is the latest sign that Poland is emerging as a larger player in European affairs, particularly on issues involving the bloc’s eastern front. His government has been among the most vocal critics of Russia’s activities in Ukraine, even calling for a larger Western military presence in Poland and other former Eastern Bloc states.
Marcin Zaborowski, director of the Polish Institute of International Affairs, said the appointment of Mr. Tusk was “a sign that they understand that a stronger voice on these issues is needed.”
Even so Mr. Tusk took relatively a nonconfrontational tone in his comments on Saturday evening. His appointment was “a huge opportunity to introduce this Eastern and Central European energy” into European affairs, Mr. Tusk said. Commenting on tensions with Russia and on the conflict in Ukraine, Mr. Tusk said “our goal is peace over there” but that it remained necessary for Europe “to build a common position.”
Poland had for years been making the case in Brussels that the leadership should include someone from the former Soviet bloc nations. “Once this argument was accepted, it seemed rather logical that one of the most important posts should go to the biggest and most influential country in the region,” Mr. Zaborowski said. “We were the only country in which pro-European Union sentiments grew during the euro crisis. Everywhere else, sentiment toward Europe has been slowly declining while, in Poland, it has been on the rise.”Poland had for years been making the case in Brussels that the leadership should include someone from the former Soviet bloc nations. “Once this argument was accepted, it seemed rather logical that one of the most important posts should go to the biggest and most influential country in the region,” Mr. Zaborowski said. “We were the only country in which pro-European Union sentiments grew during the euro crisis. Everywhere else, sentiment toward Europe has been slowly declining while, in Poland, it has been on the rise.”
The six-decade effort to integrate the continent has begun to hit serious roadblocks amid massive levels of unemployment and economic weakness that has translated into hostility to the bureaucracy in Brussels, which is regarded as meddling and ineffective.The six-decade effort to integrate the continent has begun to hit serious roadblocks amid massive levels of unemployment and economic weakness that has translated into hostility to the bureaucracy in Brussels, which is regarded as meddling and ineffective.
In June, leaders named Jean-Claude Juncker, the former prime minister of Luxembourg and a former leader of the group of ministers overseeing the euro. That nomination faced fierce opposition from Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain, who said Mr. Juncker would not do enough to reform the way the European Union operates.In June, leaders named Jean-Claude Juncker, the former prime minister of Luxembourg and a former leader of the group of ministers overseeing the euro. That nomination faced fierce opposition from Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain, who said Mr. Juncker would not do enough to reform the way the European Union operates.
Mr. Juncker is scheduled to take over from his predecessor, José Manuel Barroso, at the start of November. But the precise timing of the transfer will depend on whether the European Parliament endorses the rest of his team, which consists of 27 other commissioners, who still need to be allocated to specific posts.Mr. Juncker is scheduled to take over from his predecessor, José Manuel Barroso, at the start of November. But the precise timing of the transfer will depend on whether the European Parliament endorses the rest of his team, which consists of 27 other commissioners, who still need to be allocated to specific posts.
Among the jobs still up grabs are the European Union competition commissioner, who enforces antitrust policy; the trade commissioner, who will conduct negotiations with the United States on a planned trans-Atlantic trade pact; the commissioner for the internal market, who will oversee regulations on banks and financial markets; and the commissioner for economic and monetary affairs, who enforces the rule book for nations using the euro.Among the jobs still up grabs are the European Union competition commissioner, who enforces antitrust policy; the trade commissioner, who will conduct negotiations with the United States on a planned trans-Atlantic trade pact; the commissioner for the internal market, who will oversee regulations on banks and financial markets; and the commissioner for economic and monetary affairs, who enforces the rule book for nations using the euro.