Swedish EU presidency seeks agreement on top jobs (Roundup)

Nov 17, 2009, 12:28 GMT

Stockholm - European Union leaders meeting this week must reach agreement on the bloc's new top jobs since the Lisbon Treaty is set to enter into force next month, the Swedish prime minister said Tuesday.

The posts to be filled include a permanent president to head the EU's summits and a head for the bloc's foreign policy arm.

Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency, has in recent weeks been in touch with leaders of the 26 other EU members ahead of Thursday's summit in Brussels about candidates.

Finding a balance between the various political factions was 'mentioned first of all' during the consultations, Reinfeldt told the Swedish parliament's EU Affairs Committee, adding he hoped for consensus but there could be a vote.

Reinfeldt said 'there have been some examples in European history where a candidate presented in the evening did not have the job in the morning,' indicating the political manoeuvring that can result in a compromise name.

He reminded the committee members that the foreign policy chief - who was also to be a member of the executive European Commission - needed approval from European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and the European Parliament.

Earlier Tuesday, Reinfeldt's invitation letter to the summit was published where he stated that 'the time has now come for us to choose the persons who will be appointed.'

The Lisbon Treaty was due to enter into force on December 1.

Reinfeldt's letter noted that the treaty 'will change many things in the way the European Union operates,' and he suggested that EU leaders devote some time at their working dinner 'if time allows' to discuss 'our future working methods.'

Both Reinfeldt and Swedish EU Affairs Minister Cecilia Malmstrom have noted that there were more names than posts, suggesting that Thursday's parley could run late, possibly until Friday.

The selection process has to strike a balance between right and left, small and big countries and between north and south in the 27- nation bloc.