European ministers gave the green light yesterday for US nominee Paul Wolfowitz to take over as head of the World Bank, after hearing soothing assurances on fighting poverty from the architect of the Iraq war.
The US deputy secretary of defence came to Brussels on the eve of a World Bank board meeting that will pick a successor to James Wolfensohn, the bank's outgoing head.
Mr Wolfowitz stressed his commitment to fighting poverty in a statement after the talks, praising the EU's role in development and promising to consult Europe regularly and ensure it was properly represented in the bank's management.
The executive European Commission said it was happy with the commitments Mr Wolfowitz gave EU finance and development officials and Germany said it EU governors would back him.
German development minister Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul, who had voiced scepticism about the nomination, said: "I expect he will get European and German support." Asked about his role in the Iraq war, she said: "This is a new beginning for him as well."
Mr Wolfowitz, more widely associated with the unilateral use of US military power than with development policy, said he knew his neo-conservative image worried some in Europe.
Luxembourg prime minister Jean-Claude Juncker, who chaired the meeting as EU president, described Mr Wolfowitz repeatedly as "the incoming president of the World Bank". - (Reuters)
