Rompuy chosen as EU president, Ashton as foreign policy chief

sp;BRUSSELS. November 20. KAZINFORM. Belgian Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy Thursday was unanimously elected as the first full-time president of the European Union and Britain's EU Trade Commissioner Catherine Ashton as foreign policy chief of the 27-nation bloc; Kazinform refers to Xinhua.

Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, whose country currently holds the rotating EU presidency, announced the appointment at a press conference held after a working dinner of leaders of the 27 member states.

    "Today, we decided the people who will lead Europe to the future," said Reinfeldt, with Van Rompuy, Ashton and President of European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso sitting beside him.

    At the press conference, Van Rompuy said that the appointment "marks a recognition of my country as a founding member of the EU," adding he will assume his duty as EU's first permanent president on January 1, 2010.

"Even if it is particularly hard to abandon the post I hold in my country, I have accepted the decision," said the low-profile politician who became Belgian Prime Minister in December 2008.

    Ashton termed herself as a good negotiator, citing merits of striking a trade agreement with South Korea and settling decade-long trade disputes with the U.S.

    The two new top posts are regulated by the Lisbon Treaty, which is due to come into force on December 1, 2009. The role of the EU president is to chair the EU's summit, while the foreign policy supremo is to head the EU's foreign policy arm; Kazinform cites Xinhua. See www.news.xinhuanet.com for full version.