Top European Commission jobs filled in record time

By Ann Cahill European Correspondent

Friday, November 20, 2009

EUROPE’s top jobs were filled in record time at a summit of EU leaders in Brussels last night, but the initial reaction was one of disappointment.

The hotly tipped Belgian Prime Minister, Herman van Rompuy, was no surprise, but Trade Commissioner Baroness Catherine Ashton for the major new foreign minister’s post was unexpected. The third, a powerful but little referred to job as general secretary of the council secretariat, which represents the member states, went to Uwe Corsepius, the adviser of German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Taoiseach Brian Cowen welcomed the appointments and said Mr Van Rompuy, coming from a small state, would understand the issues of concern to small states like Ireland.

He added that Baroness Ashton had been an effective Trade Commissioner and had worked well on the interests of exporting countries like Ireland.

"Both are well capable and competent of doing the job," he said.

Mr Van Rompuy takes over his job on December 1. He will chair the four annual summits of EU leaders and represent the EU at summits with other nations.

This story appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Friday, November 20, 2009