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Kozlik: European Council President Post Still Open to Development
Saturday 21 November 2009 Zoom in | Print page
(Slovak Radio, November 21, 'Sobotne dialogy')
European Council President is not supposed to make great decisions, but rather be flexible and co-ordinate tasks, Slovak MEP Sergej Kozlik (LS-HZDS) said on public-service Slovak Radio's (SRo) political discussion programme Sobotne Dialogy (Saturday dialogues) on Saturday.
According to Kozlik, new European Council President Herman Van Rompuy has demonstrated good negotiation skills, when he managed to form the Belgian Government in a difficult situation. "The post of European Council President will still be subject to development, hence, a strong personality was not sought after," said Kozlik.
MEP and former Slovak foreign minister Eduard Kukan (SDKU-DS) shares the belief that the task of European Council President is mainly to co-ordinate. "Herman Van Rompuy has all the preconditions to do his job right," said Kukan, adding that although Van Rompuy is relatively unknown politician, he might use this fact to his advantage.
Baroness Catherine Ashton, formerly European Commission member, has become new High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy as of Thursday. "The choice surprised me, as I haven't known much about her," claimed Kukan. Kozlik revealed that there was a strong pressure to have one of the two EU most prominent posts filled by a woman.
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