EU in deadlock to fill top roles

• Source: Global Times
• [01:05 November 18 2009]
• Comments

By Xu Donghuan

Amid worries that the EU may fail to reach a consensus on president and foreign affairs chief posts at a summit this week, Chinese experts on European studies hope to see the 27 member states break the deadlock and agree on the names for the two top positions, because a unified European bloc would project itself as a more credible partner to China.

Professor Chen Zhimin, an expert on EU's foreign policy at the International Politics Department of Fudan University in Shanghai, said the role of the president and foreign affairs chief would enhance the EU's diplomatic efforts and would be welcomed by China.

"China often feels at a loss in what to do when faced with a divided foreign policy among EU member states," he explained.

However, he also pointed out that a strengthened position of the EU on the world stage – which the Lisbon treaty expects to see – may present a bigger challenge to China.

Belgian Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy is the frontrunner to become the EU's first president. But some countries want a more established statesman.