EU leaders to choose first full-time president

BRUSSELS. November 19. KAZINFORM Leaders of the European Union (EU) are scheduled to choose the bloc's first full-time president and foreign policy chief at an informal summit held here on Thursday, but no consensus has been reached on the issue up to now; Kazinform refers to Xinhua.

The heads of state and government from 27 EU member states are supposed to appoint, over a working dinner, president of the European Council, high representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and secretary-general for the Council Secretariat.

Before Thursday's meeting, Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, whose country currently holds the EU's rotating presidency, has conducted intensive consultations with his counterparts from other member states, but has failed to reach a consensus.

Cecilia Malmstrom, currently Sweden's EU affairs minister, saidearlier, "If the situation should appear that there is no decision on Thursday, it is up to the presidency to evaluate the situation"; Kazinform cites Xinhua.

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