Lack of star power in EU

Almost a year after America elected charismatic, inspirational and multi-cultural Barack Obama as president, leaders of the 27-nation European Union was the exact opposite: they squabbled for weeks and then - surprise - elected two low-profile, provincial and without interest politicians newly created posts of block seen the president and foreign policy chief.
Belgian Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy will become the first president of the Council of the EU and Britain's Catherine Ashton will be foreign minister / senior representatives. Both are virtually unknown outside their native countries. Van Rompuy was Belgian Prime Minister for a year, for the same time as Ashton has been in Brussels, EU trade commissioner. At the request of former Minister of the UK Prime Minister Tony Blair for the post of senior derailed by the opposition, Van Rompuy was chosen for his reputation as a peacemaker who helped prevent the breakup Belgium. Ashton appeared as a last-minute compromise, after British Foreign Secretary, David Miliband ruled himself out. Selection of new team says a great deal for the EU - and its vision for the future.
First, the world can rest easy: Europe has decided to put domestic politics on international ambitions. Secondly, forget the fear / hope the EU a superpower '. "As Van Rompuy as Ashton will ask for - or to succeed in - the dominant global stage. Thirdly, to give up any illusion that the EU requires a change of direction or a real transformation of its political machinery. Duo new likely to opt for 'safe and stable' policies, not engage in fresh, ground-breaking thinking.
Fourth, EU governments will remain the key-mediator in the coming years, with national leaders continued to call the shots, including in economic talks within the Group of 20, forum dealing with the following -effects of economic crisis. Fifth, elections Spotlights a powerful new role of the EP.
The two largest groups in the EU assembly - the party of center-right European People and center-left Socialists - had insisted on a political balance between the two new appointments. Sixth, the small member states strongly opposed to the work of the Council President will be one of the major members, such as France or Great Britain, fearing it would lead to domination of the country's largest council, and reduce role of the European Commission.
Seven, in Ashton, EU leaders have at least met with some criticism at the lack of women in top jobs. True, Obama and U.S. comparisons are unfair. Obama was elected by popular vote, while the appointment of two Van Rompuy and Ashton is the result of a selection procedure mysterious and inscrutable. All 27 EU leaders had to agree to meetings, taking into account a number of factors such as nationality, political affiliation and the need for a balance between rich countries and poor, east and west, north and south - as well as between men and women.
EU president - general consensus now is that he will be really more of a paper-pushing 'general secretary' or 'head' - is expected to organize meetings of the bloc, EU leaders held, to engage in the unseemly bickering and represent the global stage block. An economist and former budget minister, Van Rompuy believed to have impressed his colleagues, because after 18 months of caretaker government, he brought political stability in Belgium.
"My role - and this is the role stated in the Treaty - is to find consensus," said Van Rompuy reporters after his appointment. 'You can ask me for my personal opinion, but my personal views are irrelevant. In my new role I do not intend to make known my views personal. "
Ashton, as foreign minister, will also be crisscrossing the globe, seeking to speak for the EU. She faces a difficult job, however, that by Javier Solana, EU High Representative of the high current and former NATO secretary general is universally respected and has cultivated international friends and allies with skill and intelligence. In contrast, Ashton is reported to have no foreign policy experience and has not held an elected post.
However, after she was nominated, she dismissed concerns that in its EU-level experience will be a handicap in dealing with world leaders. "Am I an ego on legs? No, I'm not," Ashton told reporters. "Judge me for what I do, and I think you will be proud of me." Not surprisingly, two meetings without interest met with shock and disappointment in Brussels and other European capitals, with the EU on-Watchers - including this correspondent - surprised with the decision to take a team likely to project voice of Europe in the global stage.
Significantly, as they are likely to overshadow EU leaders such as French President Nicolas Sarkozy, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, leaders of the bloc's true heavyweight, which were not available to countenance any competition . Lower their key personalities also says European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso - a former Portuguese prime minister - will loom large in the phase of the EU.
Asked after the meeting that the EU represents Europe on the world stage, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the leaders of France, Germany, Spain and the people - and does not mention or new appointees.
"We have outstanding leaders throughout Europe," said Brown, adding: "We are able to represent Europe in the whole world."
What a missed opportunity. The purpose of exercising all the Lisbon Treaty was ultimately to boost Europe's global profile and streamline the decision-making clunky and outdated system. True, as Ashton Van Rompuy and believed to be diligent worker, and consensus-builders who will be happy enough to work behind the scenes rather than in the global spotlight. This is all very good. But as always America dominate the world stage, Russia, China and India want a stronger than in global governance, the EU could have done with some star power.