EU struggles to boost image on world stage

The EU's Swedish presidency has won praise for its efforts to secure member states' agreement on the nominations, but no consensus had been reached by Wednesday, the eve of a summit at which the appointments are supposed to be made. Countries outside the EU are bemused by a process that EU diplomats say is likely to result in the appointment of a president who is a compromise candidate, little known outside Europe and a lightweight in global terms.

While the EU has been dithering over two jobs that are meant to help it remain relevant and match the rise of emerging powers following the global economic crisis, U.S. President Barack Obama has been in China strengthening U.S.-Sino relations. That high-powered meeting cannot have escaped EU officials who fear the 27-country bloc will become irrelevant if it does not pick powerful leaders and show strong leadership.

“I genuinely believe that unless Europe does so, we will find ... that a G-2 informally, if not formally, emerges as the key decision-making axis in the world — the U.S. and China,” British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said this month.

Jose Manuel Barroso, the president of the EU's executive European Commission, has also made clear how important the decisions are for the EU's future.

“Europe is facing stark choices in today's interdependent world. Either we work together to rise to the challenges. Or we condemn ourselves to irrelevance,” he said in a policy document.

Belgian Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy, a low-profile leader, is the frontrunner to become president, but there is no firm favorite for the role of high representative for foreign affairs, EU diplomats say. They say Britain is still pushing for former British Prime Minister Tony Blair to be president, but many other states want someone who they believe would be better able to secure a consensus at meetings.

“If that relatively unknown person from a relatively small country is a strong personality who knows his or her dossier and grows into the task, I don't think it will undermine the EU,” said Finnish Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb.

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