EU calls summit on top jobs

By Darren Ennis

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union will hold a special summit on November 19 to name a president and foreign policy chief to give the 27-nation bloc greater sway in world affairs and streamline its cumbersome decision-making processes.

The appointments are being made under the EU's Lisbon reform treaty and are intended to give the bloc more global clout as emerging powers such as China become more influential following the global economic crisis.

Belgian Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy is expected to be nominated as the preferred candidate for president by Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt -- who is leading the negotiations -- when EU leaders meet over dinner next week, diplomats said.

But finding a suitable Socialist candidate for EU High Representative to balance the relatively low-profile Conservative Van Rompuy is proving more difficult following Britain's reluctance to allow foreign secretary David Miliband to run for the post.

"If we called the summit today, Van Rompuy would be the new EU president," one diplomat with knowledge of the negotiations told Reuters Wednesday.

"Van Rompuy and Miliband was the dream ticket, but Britain has not nominated Miliband. He has a young family and has one eye on the future Labour Party leadership."

Speaking at a press conference with German counterpart Guido Westerwelle, Miliband confirmed he had no plans to become EU foreign policy chief.

"When I said that I was not a candidate for the post of high representative, I meant it. I'm committed to Britain and I am committed to the Labour Government," he said.