The EU's next step after the Lisbon treaty: Choose a president

A figurehead or real power player?

Only a few days ago, Jan Peter Balkenende, the Dutch prime minister, was considered the leading contender. Ms. Joannin suggests that former Latvian Prime Minister Vaira Vike-Freiberga, much respected, would give a continent that is 52 percent female a different voice, and one from the east. But her chances are not seen as strong.

"Whether the new president will become a figurehead or a power player remains to be seen," says Thomas Klau of the European Council on Foreign Relations in Paris. "But since that is an open question, it makes for some excitement."

Top foreign policy chiefs include, along with Mr. Miliband, Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, Finnish Enlargement Minister Olie Rehn, and former Italian Prime Minister Massimo D'Alema.

Europe held its breath last month as Ireland voted "yes" on a Lisbon Treaty that is designed to make Europe more efficient by eliminating an ungainly 27 vote unanimity in decisions, and to give Europe a strong federal identity. The union, now seen mainly in economic terms, will be in a position to develop stronger integration in political, foreign policy, defense, and research matters.

Shortly after President Klaus in Prague reluctantly signed the Lisbon Treaty, which he argues will cede the Czech Republic's sovereignty to Brussels, the Swedish government in Stockholm, home to the current (and last) rotating EU president, issued a statement that, "All the EU member states have now ratified the text. The treaty will come into force on Dec. 1 and all the details must now be worked out."

"It is important not to raise false hopes," says Mr. Klau. "Taking a common foreign policy toward China, Russia, or Washington – that is not going to happen overnight. We are moving into a new house, some of which remains to be built. But there a legitimate hope the new set up will be able to deliver an effective European foreign policy, in time."

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