No glamour, thanks - we're European

Attempting to decipher EU politics has never been the easiest of tasks, and true to form, leaders sprang something of a surprise last week in agreeing appointees for two powerful new positions, apparently over dinner .

These appointments are the culmination of a long reform process encapsulated in the Lisbon Treaty, which should make the process of passing legislation considerably less protracted.

However, in appointing the key figures who will oversee these new arrangements, has the EU missed an opportunity to strengthen the role of Europe in the world?

With Tony Blair earlier touted as a candidate, most attention has been focussed on the Presidency. However, the President’s role is envisioned as largely administrative, involving coordinating the meetings of the European Council. In this respect, the Belgian PM, Herman van Rompuy looks to be a good choice – a quiet and uncontroversial figure.

By contrast, the new High Representative for Foreign Affairs - the UK’s Baroness Cathy Ashton - will speak for the EU on foreign policy issues, and is mandated to negotiate on behalf of its member states. She will also have at her disposal a newly created diplomatic corps .

This marks a significant step towards a stronger European voice in the world – something which GlobeScan’s polling indicates would be widely welcomed: in a study conducted on behalf of the British Council in 2008, solid majorities in 8 out of 9 countries expressed the belief that the EU already has a positive role in the world.

But will Ashton’s appointment deliver a stronger European voice? This role seems designed to suit a high-profile figure well-versed in foreign affairs. By many accounts Ashton performed well in her previous post as Trade Commissioner and is respected in Brussels. However, she has also never held a foreign affairs role and could struggle for visibility, which has led some to question the wisdom of the choice.

Most of all, this decision has hardly done much to enhance perceptions of the EU as democratic and transparent: France and Germany have dominated the selection process from the beginning, and Van Rompuy’s selection was sealed after Nicolas Sarkozy and Angela Merkel agreed a common position . In this context, the appointment of Ashton looks like a succesful attempt to buy off British oppostion on the Presidency after the Franco-German duo decided “that’s Blair enough, thank you very much”.

Lisbon is a real step forward, but key decisions are still being made by the two biggest players, still involve complex horse-trading and are formalised over dinner conversations. A brave new world for the EU in some respects, whereas in others - plus ça change…