Word: lisbon
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...grudging admission by the Euroskeptic Czech President Vaclav Klaus in a newspaper interview published on Oct. 18 that he will ratify the Lisbon Treaty, a document designed to re-engineer the European Union's institutions to better match the realities of its expanded membership, has set off a race for the E.U.'s top job. The treaty creates two powerful new positions: President of the European Council and High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, effectively the E.U.'s Foreign Minister. Blair is seen as front runner for the presidency. (See pictures of the George...
...Spain back Blair, at least for now. Angela Merkel, the leader of Europe's largest economy, remains enigmatic. Westminster insiders say Merkel will come through for Blair. A German government source is more nuanced. "The Chancellor worked well with [Blair] during the 2007 German E.U. presidency when the Lisbon Treaty was sealed. But of course, she worked well with others too." The presidential race isn't over until the E.U.'s undisputed heavyweight sings. With reporting by Bruce Crumley / Paris...
...Irish used to be instinctive pro-Europeans. Now they're a lot more skeptical. They're far more questioning. People now say 'If we go further in European integration, what will we lose and what will we gain?' [In the Lisbon Treaty referendum] people thought about investment more; they said, 'Why do we have all these companies in Ireland?' The reason is because we're part of Europe. We still get a great share of foreign direct investment. In U.S. investment round the world, Ireland gets more than China. When the argument comes down to hard facts, people...
...President Vaclav Klaus, an avowed opponent of the document, could delay signing. If the delays drag on until spring next year, it could reopen the process in the United Kingdom: the British Conservatives - expected to win a general election next Spring - have promised to call a British referendum on Lisbon if it is not fully ratified by the time they come to power...
...meantime, work will begin on filling the new posts created by Lisbon. Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair is the front-runner to become the E.U.'s first full-time president, and could be named within weeks. Other positions include a stronger foreign policy chief, known as the High Representative for Foreign Affairs. The E.U. will also work on creating an E.U. diplomatic corps, or European External Action Service...