‘Top job’ uncertainty reigns as Lisbon enters into force

As Belgium's Herman Van Rompuy and Britain's Catherine Ashton assume their new roles of Council president and EU foreign affairs chief following the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty on 1 December 2009, debate is raging among Brussels commentators over whose role will prove the more prominent. EurActiv asked a number of experts to outline their views.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Van Rompuy closes in on EU presidency http://www.europeansources.info/record/van-rompuy-takes-eu-presidency/

ESO: Background information: Implementation of the Treaty of Lisbon http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-implementation-of-the-treaty-of-lisbon/

European Policy Centre: Implementing Lisbon: the EU Presidency's other (rotating) half , December 2009 http://www.epc.eu/TEWN/pdf/97640204_Implementing%20Lisbon.pdf

Deutsche Welle, 1.1.10: EU presidency power-sharing takes effect http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,5070917,00.html

France24, 1.1.10: Spain takes up the EU Presidency under new leadership structure http://www.france24.com/en/20100101-spains-takes-reins-revamped-european-union

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