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Summary
European Union leaders awarded two of its top jobs to politicians relatively unknown on the international stage, after almost a decade of wrangling over how to project Europes global presence. At a Brussels summit the EU picked consensus builders rather than star names, choosing Herman Van Rompuy, Belgiums centre-right prime minister, over Tony Blair as the EUs first full-time president. Britain secured the position of foreign policy supremo for Lady Ashton, the EU trade commissioner, who has never held publicly elected office and has only been in her post for a year. Gordon Brown admitted disappointment that Mr Blair had failed, but claimed Lady Ashton would give Britain a powerful voice in EU foreign affairs and in her dual role as European Commission vice-president.Presidency of EUOn 1 July 2009, Sweden took over the Presidency of the EU. This means that for six months, Sweden is leading the EU's work and is responsible for moving important EU issues forward.The Presidency of the Council rotates between the Member States. The Presidency rotates on a half-yearly basis. The country presiding over the Council functions as the driving force in the EU's legislative and political decision-making process.
