EU risks limp compromise on top jobs
Ian Bond, foreign-policy director at the Centre for European Reform in London, says there is an irony in the compromise emerging ahead of Saturday's summit. While Mr Renzi's profile will be boosted if Ms Mogherini gets the job, "there are no very obvious winners" among other powerful member states.
The UK may have made enemies in high places by opposing Mr Juncker and being less than enthusiastic about Mr Tusk initially. France is still pushing for a top economic post, but Berlin appears opposed and Paris has gained little elsewhere. Some Brussels insiders argue that Berlin's huge influence will be reinforced if German Chancellor Angela Merkel's close ally, Mr Tusk, wins the council job.
Still, Mr Bond says, Ms. Mogherini isn't a "natural soul-mate" of the German chancellor "and she wasn't a huge Juncker fan."
The UK may have made enemies in high places by opposing Mr Juncker and being less than enthusiastic about Mr Tusk initially. France is still pushing for a top economic post, but Berlin appears opposed and Paris has gained little elsewhere. Some Brussels insiders argue that Berlin's huge influence will be reinforced if German Chancellor Angela Merkel's close ally, Mr Tusk, wins the council job.
Still, Mr Bond says, Ms. Mogherini isn't a "natural soul-mate" of the German chancellor "and she wasn't a huge Juncker fan."