European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek called in Brussels on Thursday for EU leaders to reach a decision on the candidates for the bloc's new top jobs.
"We have had enough internal reflection. I call on the heads of state and government to take on the challenge and show leadership and reach a decision on the names for these important positions, said Buzek ahead of an informal EU summit to decide on the appointment of a permanent president of the Council of Ministers, foreign policy chief.
He said the new European Commission should start its work as quickly as possible.
Buzek said the president of the council should be act as a "co-ordinator" rather than a "president" in the traditional sense of the word.
"The new president should lead on direction, co-ordination, continuity, promote the European interest and listen to all Member States no matter their size," he added.
Buzek also favored a female for one of the two posts, saying that appointing a woman would be a positive signal for the EU.
"The face of the EU cannot be exclusively male," he noted.
He said the answer to the question "Who do I call if I want to call Europe?" would ideally be a woman.
Buzek also urged for geographical balance of the appointments, which should reflect the entire EU "in order to have the best possible political sensitivity in the EU's leadership".
The candidates for the two posts, created by the Lisbon Treaty, remained undecided a few hours before the working dinner summit, supposed to make a decision on the matter.
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