But he or she is expected to chair EU summits, take on some of the functions of the current presidency of the Council of the European Union - held on a rotating six-month basis by EU heads of government - and represent the EU on common foreign and security policy.

BBC: Berlusconi backs Blair for EU job

The European Parliament's Defence and Scrutiny Committee took evidence on 28 September 2010 on the impact of the Lisbon Treaty on the EU's common security and defence policy.

BBC: Security and Defence Committee

EU's crying need for a common foreign and security policy.

ECONOMIST: Germany comes out of its post-war shell