Socialists back Mogherini for EU foreign affairs chief / EU power struggle over foreign policy chief role ends in deadlock

Socialist Prime Ministers met on the 16 July 2014 to give their support for Italian Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini to become the next EU foreign affairs chief.

Mogherini was the frontrunner to be named as the successor to Britain's Catherine Ashton, but she ran into strong opposition as Mogherini is regarded as overly pro-Russia. Poland and the three Baltic states, who side with the Ukraine in its confrontation with Moscow, were strongly opposed to the Italian, who the previous week had made Russia her first stop during Italy's current rotating presidency of the EU.

• Primary Source

EurActiv, 15.07.14: Poland, Baltic states hesitant over Mogherini http://www.euractiv.com/sections/eu-elections-2014/poland-baltic-states-hesitant-over-mogherini-303472

ESO: Background information: EU heavyweights advise Bulgaria to nominate Georgieva for Ashton’s job http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-heavyweights-advise-bulgaria-to-nominate-georgieva-for-ashtons-job/

ESO: Background information: European Council, Brussels, 16 July 2014 [Special Meeting] http://www.europeansources.info/record/european-council-brussels-16-july-2014-special-meeting/

ESO: Background information: The next EU executive: What challenges? http://www.europeansources.info/record/the-next-eu-executive-what-challenges/

EUObserver, 16.07.14: EU in east-west divide over foreign affairs job http://euobserver.com/institutional/124989

The Guardian, 17.07.14: EU power struggle over foreign policy chief role ends in deadlock http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/17/eu-summit-power-struggle-foreign-policy-chief-role-deadlock

The Guardian, 16.07.14: EU in east-west power struggle over who should become foreign policy chief http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/16/eu-east-west-power-struggle-foreign-policy-chief

EUObserver, 23.07.14: Rome continues to push Italian FM to replace Ashton http://euobserver.com/foreign/125085

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