On December 1st, the treaty of Lisbon entered into force, effectively changing the leadership dynamic of the European Union’s 27 member states.
“It would be impossible to have a better choice of personalities for European Union leadership,” said European Commission President José Manuel Barroso in an EU briefing.
Under the treaty, Herman Van Rompuy, the Prime Minister of Belgium became the permanent President of the European Council and Catherine Ashton, the EU Trade Commissioner and former leader of the British House of Lords became the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. Additionally, Pierre de Boissieu, the current Deputy Secretary General of the Council of the EU, become its Secretary General.
Read the Briefing Here
