Ahead on picks for new EU jobs as bloc falters in its reach for global influence

Reuters was ahead of the game on Nov 19 when the European Union named its first president and foreign representative, as part of its supposedly sweeping revamp of its governing structure. Reuters was first to report Britain had agreed to stop pushing ex-premier Tony Blair for the presidency, was first to confirm the way was clear for Belgium’s Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy to become EU president and first to report that Britain’s Catherine Ashton would become foreign affairs chief. The Reuters story hit hard the angle that by picking two virtual unknowns the EU had fallen far short of its ambition to achieve greater global influence. Reuters was also first to spot another important angle - that France and Germany had agreed the two appointments to suit their national agendas and were set to win key roles overseeing trade and financial services.