According to the EUobserver, Portuguese PM José Manuel Durão Barroso has accepted the offer from the EU heads to become their next Commission President Read about it here.

But there was more to this deal. The way one report I saw put it, this was a tandem offer. And although the media focused more on who would become the next Commission President, the more important issue for the EU heads was renewing Javier Solana's term as their High Representative, and assuring that Solana becomes their first, super Foreign Minister.

You see, who runs the EU's foreign and security policy is more important to most of the EU heads than who runs the EU Commission. The exception to this may be Germany. That's because German leaders may think they can control the EU better economically because they have the biggest population.

But I think Germany is making a big mistake. Where the rubber meets the road in the real world today is foreign and security policy. Especially in these days of international terrorism and weapons of mass destruction. When major cities can be dissolved in less then an hour by a few religious fanatics, economic might alone becomes a liability, not a strength.

So most of the EU heads are taking strong action to protect themselves from this new threat. That's why who will become their new Foreign Minister is more important to them than who will be their next Commission President. In fact, other EU observers are finally beginning to realize that the Commission is being sidelined in the area of foreign and security policy Read about it here.

You see, from the beginning that's what Solana's Office of High Representative was all about. Its purpose was the creation of a new center of power that would remain under the control of the member states within the Council.

And guess what? The Council happens to be where the EU's new 10-nation military wing resides under the direction of Solana.

Now let's look at a few more interesting facts:

On July 1, the Netherlands takes over the EU's six-month rotating Presidency. On January 1, 2005, Luxembourg takes control. Then on July 1, 2005, the UK takes the EU's helm. This means, for a period of 1 1/2 years, a member of Solana's 10-nation military alliance will be in control of the EU Presidency.

On top of that, in November, Portuguese PM José Manuel Durão Barroso will take control of the Commission Presidency. And not only is Barroso seen as a pro-Atlanticist (like Solana), his country, Portugal, just happens to also be a member of Solana's 10-nation alliance.

Catching on?