Italy Nominates Federica Mogherini for EU Foreign Policy Chief

Italian Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini (R) and Swiss President Didier Burkhalter (L) hold a press conference at the end of their meeting at the Farnesina Palace in Rome, 29 July 2014. EPA/FABIO CAMPANA

Italy has officially nominated Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini as the country’s candidate to become the EU’s new high representative for foreign affairs.

Bulgaria’s Kristalina Georgieva, the outgoing European Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response, has also been tipped as a potential contender for the post. However, the resignation of the government of Prime Minister Plamen Oresharski on July 23 has prevented Georgieva’s potential nomination.

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi lobbied for Mogherini to replace Britain’s Catherine Ashton at a summit of  EU leaders last month but no decision had been reached after some Eastern European countries including Lithuania,Latvia and Poland, opposed Mogherini’s candidacy out of concerns she might be too soft on Russia.

EU leaders will hold a summit on August 30 to try to agree on the appointments to the EU’s top jobs.

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