Around the World: European Union

Executive team named

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso on Friday named the 26 people he wants to help him drive the EU's day-to-day agenda for the next five years, including nominees for new posts that reflect major shifts in policy priorities.

The incoming EU executive of nine women and 18 men, including Barroso, must clear confirmation hearings in the European Parliament in January. The most eye-catching new position is an EU climate action commissioner: Barroso has nominated Connie Hedegaard, Denmark's climate minister until last week, when she was put in charge of hosting the Dec 7-18 climate summit in Copenhagen.