EU Leaders to Decide on EC President, Foreign Policy Chief

Italian Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini has often been described as the most likely politician to take over the EU'sdiplomatic service, but reports point the Bulgarian Kristalina Georgieva as a possible alternative. Photo by EPA/BGNES

Leaders of EU member states are due to pick the next European Council President and the union's top diplomat at a Brussels summit starting Wednesday.

A number of media outlets have reported it is yet unclear whether both posts could be filled during the meeting, with some sources claiming heads of state will only be able to strike an agreement on the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policies (or the foreign policy chief).

Contenders include Italian Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini, who some diplomats point as "inexperienced" and inadequate, and (though unofficially) the outgoing Bulgarian EU Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva, who is in charge of humanitarian aid, international cooperation and crisis response.

Sofia, however, has not yet pointed its EU Commissioner candidacy.

The official to head EU diplomacy is to be named earlier than other EU Commission members, as the position also includes a vice-presidency at the EU Commission.

The choice of successors to the EU's High Representative Catherine Ashton and EC President Herman Van Rompuy comes onto the agenda as Tuesday saw conservative federalist Jean-Claude Juncker confirmed as the new European Commission President, despite strong opposition from the UK.

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