The European Union's first full-time president will be chosen on November 19 and is almost certain to be a sitting or former head of government, Fredrik Reinfeldt, Sweden's prime minister, said yesterday. In an interview with the Financial Times, Mr Reinfeldt, who is leading the appointment process, said he had picked next Thursday as the date when the EU's 27 heads of state and government should finalise their choice at a dinner in Brussels. The presidency is one of two big jobs that the EU is creating to project its influence around the world and improve its policy making procedures. The other is a foreign policy supremo with enhanced powers.
Mr Reinfeldt said he had held discussions with 25 of the EU's other 26 leaders yesterday and on Monday, and planned to speak with the 27th today. "I'm very close to the end of my first consultations. After that, I'll do a second round, probably starting on Thursday this week, where I'll start working on compromises," he added.
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