New leadership

German Chancellor Angela Merkel welcomed the unanimous decision reached at the summit.

"The decisions were reached in consensus", she said, adding that van Rompuy had proved his ability after a long political career and enjoyed a high level of respect from Benelux countries.

Merkel also praised the High Representative for Foreign Affairs, British Labour politician Catherine Ashton: "She is a person of outstanding ability and is very qualified for this position."

Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, who chaired the meeting, said it took time to consult with all of his other 26 EU colleagues.

"But it's very important to show that everyone has a say, that this is the Europe of 27, that everyone was actually in on this decision, and this also showed tonight when we unanimously could support both of these candidates," Reinfeldt said.

Van Rompuy: Consensus builder

Belgian Prime Minister Herman van Rompuy, 62, has been in charge of the Belgian coalition government for less than one year. His tenure has seen a calming of the often turmoil-stricken Belgian government.

During the mid-to-late 1990s, van Rompuy held the post of budget minister under the Christian Democrat-led government of Jean-Luc Dehaene. He was regarded as a budgetary hardliner and has been critical of governments spending their way out of recession.

Prior to entering politics van Rompuy held a position in the Belgian central bank. He is also known as having strong religious convictions and as an intellectual, and has authored six books.

Ashton: Labour ally

Catherine Ashton, 53 and formally a Baroness, has been a close ally of British Prime Minister Gordon Brown since joining the UK Labour Party.

Ashton had held a number of mid-level positions in the UK government related to education, justice and human rights before being promoted to the position of EU trade commissioner a year ago.

During her time in Brussels Ashton has been a central figure in trade negotiations with nations such as China and Russia.

Broad support from EU leaders

French President Nicolas Sarkozy hailed van Rompuy's appointment as "an excellent choice". "He is an European from the bottom of his heart," said Sarkozy.

Congratulating van Rompuy, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown stressed that he regards the post as largely ceremonial because the EU policy agenda should remain in the hands of national governments. Brown praised what he called van Rompuy's "great qualities as a diplomat and negotiator, and a man of integrity."

Brown heaped praise on British EU trade commissioner Catherine Ashton.

"For Britain, to have the vice-president of the European Commission and the first head of the external affairs section and high representative ... shows Britain is at the heart of Europe," he told a news conference.

In Washington, US President Barack Obama has also welcomed the EU decision, saying it would make Europe an "even stronger partner" for the United States.

The new positions "will strengthen the EU and enable it to be an even stronger partner to the United States adding security and prosperity around the world," the White House said in a statement.


nrt/dm/gb/Reuters/dpa/AFP
Editor: Andreas Illmer