War in the EU as Herman Van Rompuy makes 'power grab'

Open warfare has broken out at the top of the European Union with governments accusing the new president, Herman Van Rompuy, of making a power grab.

EU President Herman Van Rompuy has been accused of making a power grab Photo: EPA

National leaders are concerned Mr Van Rompuy, who had been expected to take a back seat role, is attempting to expand his position.

Germany and France backed his candidature on the understanding he would act as an EU "chairman" rather than a high-profile leader.

But the introduction of the Lisbon Treaty has triggered bitter in-fighting between Mr Van Rompuy, Baroness Ashton, the foreign minister, and the Commission over who is in charge of representing Europe on the global stage.

Diplomats are increasingly worried that amid the turf wars there is a danger of Brussels "mission creep" as squabbling EU chiefs try to enlarge their empires at the expense of each other and national sovereignty.

National governments, led by Germany, are incensed by an attempt by Mr Van Rompuy to take on new powers he claims were agreed at an informal summit two weeks ago.

There has been particular anger over a letter he sent to EU leaders following the chaotic Feb 11 meeting in Brussels that was dominated by the economic crisis in Greece and talk of a European bail-out.

Despite the fact that the meeting only lasted three hours, with Greece the main topic of discussion, Mr Van Rompuy insisted that eight to ten specific points were agreed, a view that has been disputed by most EU leaders.

One of the points of the classified letter, seen by The Daily Telegraph, gives Mr Van Rompuy the right to lead the EU's negotiating team at G20 summits, usurping the role of national governments and the Commission.

"There was agreement to take better account of the international dimension. This includes a thorough preparation of the EU position for G20, allowing me to effectively and forcefully represent the EU's positions in this important forum," said the letter.

One senior EU diplomat said the Lisbon Treaty clearly ruled Mr Van Rompuy out of a major G20 role.

"G20 is primarily for national governments. The Commission represents the EU on economic or financial matters covered by the internal market," he said.

"Van Rompuy only speaks if there is a foreign policy dimension, which is very unlikely. This was not discussed, let alone agreed."

The situation has not been helped by the perceived weakness of Britain's Lady Ashton, the European foreign affairs High Representative.

She was widely attacked after allowing José Manuel Barroso, the Commission President, to impose his candidate as EU ambassador to Washington, the most important overseas posting from Brussels.

She was also criticised by Spain, current holders of the downgraded rotating EU presidency and France for not attending a meeting of defence ministers in Majorca on Thursday.

A spokesman for Mr Van Rompuy acknowledged that while the G20 issue was "mentioned" at the February summit there was no decision.

"It was an informal summit, the points summed up in the letter have an informal character," he said.

Another diplomat expressed concern that amid the "biggest shift for 50 years", following the Lisbon Treaty, EU institutions were in danger of overstepping the mark.

"It is about getting the right balance between a collective EU voice and the member states. Whoever talks – Van Rompuy, Barroso or Ashton – they need to speak to a position agreed by the 27 member states," he said.