Herman Van Rompuy, the new EU president; Baroness Ashton, the new EU Foreign Affairs Minister

Not particularly good for Turkey’s EU fantasies. Mr. Van Rompuy is known to be against Turkey’s membership.. I still work on a roundup from the Turkish press. let’s what Turks think… However, nearly all presidential candidates were against Turkey, so this is not the most surprising situation.

Having two low profile political figures for the EU’s top positions maybe a strategy to downgrade the importance of these positions. Nation states are still very important in EU-wide policy making and this leaves EU still relying on nation state fantasies…

And because these are low profile political personalities, the fate of Turkey’s membership maynot too affected, which is already negatively affected… And of course, I continue to lose my respect towards EU decision making processes.  You keep continue to negotiate Turkey for membership and you have a president who is against that membership. Turks seems to care less and less ….

Brussels Blog (Financial Times): Van Rompuy-Brit combination would signal EU disunity on Turkey

The EU?s new ?president? and ?foreign minister?

So, it?s looking like it?s lightweight, little-known Belgian Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy for the President of the European Council, and lightweight, little-known Baroness Ashton (current UK European Commissioner, Peter Mandelson?s almost invisible replacement) for the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

Supremacy of the nation state wins out

Guardian.uk: EU Leaders in last-minute attempt to decide top European Council roles

For the complete report from the guardian.co.uk click on this linkThe leaders of Europe’s main political tribes conferred in Brussels this afternoon in an attempt to hammer out a last-minute consensus on who should be the top two people running the EU’s new Lisbon regime, ahead of a crucial Brussels summit. While Christian democratic government leaders, including the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, and France’s president, Nicolas Sarkozy, gathered in Brussels, Gordon Brown found himself isolated at a session of the seven centre-left leaders ahead of this evening’s summit.

Cathy Ashton: 10 things to know

From the FT?s Westminster blog Cathy Ashton is Europe?s new foreign policy supremo. Even friends are stunned that someone so low key could have been elevated to such a high profile job. To date she has served as EU trade commissioner, leader of the Lords, and as a junior justice and education minister. Here are 10

The Belgian who will lead the EU

EU: Van Rompuy and Ashton ticket confirmed

The Swedish presidency of the Council of the European Union confirmed the proposals circulated since early evening.

The prime minister of Belgium, Herman Van Rompuy, will become the first president of the European Council, for two and a half years.

van Rompuy and Baroness Ashton for the top EU jobs

I have already said everything on this massive disgrace in my post some 30 minutes ago, but now it is official: With Barroso, van Rompuy and Ashton the EU gets the worst Troika any could have imagined.

EU Lisbon jobs open thread

It?s now clear that the Thierry Henry assist on the William Gallas goal last night is going to generate more commentary and interest than tonight?s filling of the new EU jobs (Council President, High Rep. for Foreign Policy, and Secretary General of the Council), but nonetheless, we could be stuck with these people for a while so no harm in keeping track.  What we know: Tony Blair is out of the running for Council President, but Catherine Ashton who arrived as Trade Commissioner in Mandy?s stead apparently on the inside track for the foreign policy job.

The new EU: First analyses

Yesterday evening I have commented on the van Rompuy/Ashton decision, and the main point to highlight is that I was right with my prediction on Wednesday about how the result would look in terms of the profile of the persons.

Now the time for complaints is over for a moment, it is time go into the analysis.

EU v US

Van Rompuy-Brit combination would signal EU disunity on Turkey

The sun is shining in Brussels and the sky has an unseasonably blue, cloudless, late-November-in-Rome quality as European Union leaders make their way here for the summit of summits – the event where they will choose the EU?s first full-time president and new foreign policy chief.  I wonder if the weather will be so fine when the leaders finally

What does the ?EU president? do?

There has been a torrent of comment and masses of disappointment following the nomination of Herman Van Rompuy to become the first president of the European Council, the meetings of the heads of state or government.

ast night?s appointments make sense

Van Rompuy takes EU presidency

Van Rompuy and Ashton: big enough for the big EU jobs?

So it looks as if it is to be Herman Van Rompuy, Belgium?s prime minister, as the full-time president, and Catherine Ashton, Britain?s EU trade commissioner, as the foreign policy supremo.  This is the culmination of eight years of efforts, starting with the EU?s Laeken Declaration of 2001, to reform the bloc?s institutions and give the

Ouverture for the EU top job summit

Just watched the prime ministers and presidents arrive for the EU top job summit in Brussels. Most of them passed the pack of journalists without giving interviews. Those who did did not say much.

Former Commissioner Grybauskaite who is now Lithuanian president said that she is not a candidate. Balkenende from the Netherlands told that the (formal?) nomination would only be on the 1st of December. And the Irish prime minister Cowen told that their candidate John Brutton was still available if there was a consensus around the table.

Historical dinner live: on the menu, one president

Tony Blair? (or David Miliband?) Herman van Rompuy? Peter Balkenende…? The culmination of a long, outdrawn and rather undemocratic process that is shaping the future of Europe is nigh; 19 November, to be precise, and the cafebabel.com Brussels team are invited – check their blog out this evening

‘An anti-Tony Blair, please’: European press reacts prior to EU president election

EU heads of state and government meet today in Brussels to appoint the president of the European council and the EU’s high representative for foreign and security policy. Despite months of negotiation, agreement has not been reached on who should hold the posts. The Italian, Spanish, British and French press react

Turkey?s Budding Relations with Syria and Iraq

By Stacy Maruskin (International Strategic Research Organization (ISRO/USAK), Turkey)

Some of us live by the same neighbors for ages and never seize the opportunity to introduce ourselves, become friends, or even acquaintances with them. We live our lives according to our best interests, and those do not always include inviting others over for casual conversation; this has been the case for Turkey. For years it has abided by its peace at home, peace abroad mantra, and although the Kemalist ideology should be applauded for all its accomplishments, perhaps the application of that policy has not always been in Turkey?s best interests. It was only recently that the full potential of Turkey?s strategic policy objectives could be realized due to a disdain for all things Arab and an absent desire for Turkey to expand its relations outside of the Western realm.

Syria & Israel: Two Rivals In Search of a Mediator

Lots of chatter these days revolving around the issue of reviving negotiations between Syria and Israel. In recent weeks, Syrian President Bashar Assad has repeated his desire to return to the negotiating table with Israel and even asking for European and American help to make this happen (although insisting that the negotiations be indirect and use Turkish mediation.) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, meanwhile, has stated that he’s ready to start talking with the Syrians (although insisting that the negotiations be direct and ruling out Turkey as a mediator, since he no longer considers it “fair.”)

Culture influences EU perceptions toward Turks – Hurriyet Daily News and Economic Review

Turkey: Still a Bridge Between West and East?

Europe: Prevent Turkey Turning East

Ankara: Looking West, Moving East?

Gamze Avci: Turkey’s fatigue with the EU has accommodated the diversification of its foreign policy. The perceived uncertainty about the accession process has slowed down reforms and has reduced Europe’s leverage over Ankara. But, at present the mainstay of Turkish foreign policy remains EU membership.