Merkel rules out appointments in EU leaders' summit

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday that she does not expect EU leader to decide on top appointments during their summit.
German News Agency (DPA) quoted Merkel as saying that the summit could see an "initial discussion," but no decision will be taken today. Merkel also maintained that some of the outstanding issues may not be resolved during the summit.
Finnish Prime Minister Alexander Stubb said the leaders must find the right balance in the package of appointments, and that political, gender and geographic factors have to be taken into account. While Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt called for a quick decision on a new EU foreign policy chief to replace Catherine Ashton.