Berlusconi laments "second-rate choices" for EU top posts (Extra)

Dec 17, 2010, 14:23 GMT

Brussels - The European Union made 'second-rate choices' when it chose the people to fill its top political posts last year, Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi complained on Friday.

Former Belgian premier Herman Van Rompuy and former EU trade commissioner Catherine Ashton were appointed last year European Council President and High Representative for foreign affairs, two new positions created by the bloc's new rulebook, the Lisbon Treaty.

'I remember that we proposed a (Tony) Blair- (Franco) Frattini ticket,' Berlusconi said, referring to Britain's former prime minister and Italy's foreign minister.

'Second rate choices were made, but now Van Rompuy is performing very well, with great wisdom and poise,' the Italian leader indicated, adding that he had 'personally congratulated' the sitting EU president during a summit meeting in Brussels.

Berlusconi pointedly made no comment on how he thought Ashton was doing in her job.

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