Two minor but competent figures will be president and high representative of the EU

A MAN who has been Belgian prime minister for less than a year and a British technocrat who has never held elected office were chosen by European Union leaders on Thursday November 19th to represent their 27 countries around the world, and lead their policymaking at the highest level. It seems odd to appoint people as little-known as Herman Van Rompuy and Catherine Ashton to such big jobs.

For nearly a decade, EU politicians have been wrangling about a new rule book, calling for Europe to equip itself with leadership posts that would help their club to stride the world stage. Yet by the time national leaders arrived at a Brussels summit to fill the new posts of president of the European Council and EU foreign-policy chief, or high representative, their boasts and ambition were a sad memory. …