Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini is the new coordinator of European Foreign Ministers affiliated to EPP member Parties. The designation was officially announced today in Brussels during the course of a working lunch of EPP Foreign Ministers, upon proposal of its President, Wilfried Martens.

As to the candidates for the new posts at the EU, the Minister, who is currently in Brussels for the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERCE), underlined that support to the candidacy of Massimo D’Alema to oversee PESC is in Italy’s ‘national interest’.  The Minister went on to explain that a total of ten candidacies are being reviewed for the posts of Mr. PESC, as it is commonly known, and of permanent President of the European Council.  He added that, in any case, “the agreement to divide the positions between the EPP and the ESP (European Socialist Party) is still valid.”

As to the designation times, the Minister referred that ‘the Swedish Presidency has confirmed that is looking to have the decisions hopefully by next Thursday, or Friday if need be, among candidates with strongly European profiles.”