Alexander Stubb (cons), the Finnish foreign minister, said Friday he was pleased with the people named first permanent president of the European council and first high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, posts created under the EU's newly ratified Lisbon treaty.

Late on Thursday, EU leaders gave the president job to Herman Van Rompuy, the Belgian prime minister, and the so-called EU foreign minister's portfolio to Baroness Catherine Ashton, the EU's trade commissioner and former leader of the House of Lords in the UK.

Mr Stubb went on to praise EU leaders for taking their decision quickly.

Not having met either, Mr Stubb said he believed both Mr Van Rompuy and Lady Ashton were well qualified, professional and cooperative.

"Bulls in a chinashop will not cut it out there as one has to be extremely willing to cooperate, a quality both have," Mr Stubb said.

Mr Stubb went on to say that the foreign policy supremo clearly had more power than the permanent European council president wielded.

"The foreign minister is a user of power whereas the president is more like a chairman. The new foreign minister's job is to see to it that Germany, France and Britain toe the line and make sure that the interests of small countries are safeguarded, too." Mr Stubb added that Lady Ashton's relations with the US in particular would be close.

"It does not hurt things that she is a British woman. I believe that cooperation with Hillary Clinton for instance will be close."

Matti Vanhanen (centre), the Finnish prime minister, said the nominations meant that Olli Rehn (centre), the Finnish member of the European commission, had a better chance than before of landing a high-profile job in the new commission.

"This process has had only positive effects on Rehn's situation. I believe that this evening's nominations strengthen the position of the liberal group in the appointment of the next commission," Mr Vanhanen was quoted as saying in a government statement on Friday.

He told the Finnish News Agency (STT) on Friday that the Finnish government's aim was not to install Mr Rehn as trade commissioner.

STT