To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on the proposed role of the President of the European Council in representing the EU internationally. (185539)

Heads of State and Government, supported by Foreign Ministers reached agreement on all the key institutional issues in the Lisbon treaty, including the role of full-time President of the European Council, at the 2007 June European Council.

The treaty makes clear that

“The President of the European Council shall, at his or her level and in that capacity, ensure the external representation of the Union on issues concerning its common foreign and security policy, without prejudice to the powers of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.”

The Lisbon treaty sets out in full the full-time President’s broad role, but discussions on the detail have not yet started.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had on the salary, allowances and pension of the President of the European Council under the treaty of Lisbon if ratified. (186292)

[holding answer 19 February 2008]: The Lisbon treaty sets out the role of the President of the European Council. Details on salary and other job related benefits are not set out in the treaty. Discussions on these issues have not yet started.