..as EU countries meet this week to designate––behind closed doors––the new presidents of the EU Commission, EU Council, EU Parliament, EU Central Bank and the new EU Foreign Minister..
..on the history of those appointments and which countries normally win:
Incredibly, more Luxembourgish politicians have held that post than any other nationality:
Jean-Claude Juncker 🇱🇺 2014-19
José Manuel Barroso 🇵🇹 2004-14
Romano Prodi 🇮🇹 1999-2004
cont..
Manuel Marín 🇪🇸 1999 (interim)
Jacques Santer 🇱🇺 1995-99
Jacques Delors 🇫🇷 1985-95
Gaston Thorn 🇱🇺 1981-85
Roy Jenkins 🇬🇧 1977-81
François-Xavier Ortoli 🇫🇷 1973-77
Sicco Mansholt 🇳🇱 1972-73
Franco Maria Malfatti 🇮🇹 1970-72
Jean Rey 🇧🇪 1967-70
Walter Hallstein 🇩🇪 1958-67
Just two men have held that position.
A Belgian and a Pole:
Donald Tusk 🇵🇱 2014-19
Herman Van Rompuy 🇧🇪 2009-14
Antonio Tajani 🇮🇹 2017-19
Martin Schulz 🇩🇪 2012-17
Jerzy Buzek 🇵🇱 2009-12
Hans-Gert Pöttering 🇩🇪 2007-09
Josep Borrell 🇪🇸 2004-07
cont..
Pat Cox 🇮🇪 2002-04
Nicole Fontaine 🇫🇷 1999-2002
José María Gil-Robles 🇪🇸 1997-99
Klaus Hänsch 🇩🇪 1994-97
Egon Klepsch 🇩🇪 1992-94
Enrique Barón Crespo 🇪🇸1989-92
Henry Plumb 🇬🇧 1987-89
Pierre Pflimlin 🇫🇷1984-87
Piet Dankert 🇳🇱 1982-84
Simone Veil 🇫🇷 1979-82
Mario Draghi 🇮🇹 2011-19
Jean-Claude Trichet 🇫🇷2003-11
Wim Duisenberg 🇳🇱 1998-2003
Two women have held so far:
Federica Mogherini 🇮🇹 2014-19
Catherine Ashton 🇬🇧 2009-14
Javier Solana 🇪🇸 1999-2009
Along with EU Parliament president Simone Veil, these are the only 3 women to have held senior EU positions.