Berlin - German Chancellor Angela Merkel welcomed the appointment of the EU's two new top officials on Friday, saying she had "full trust" in EU President Herman Van Rompuy and foreign policy High Representative Catherine Ashton. "The chancellor approved their appointment with full conviction, and the federal government is convinced that both will do their work very well," a spokesman for Merkel told reporters in Berlin.
German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle welcomed the appointments earlier, saying the two were both "capable personalities."
"Van Rompuy and Lady Ashton are facing great challenges," Westerwelle said.
Westerwelle was beginning an official visit to Russia, after attending the inauguration of Afghan President Hamid Karzai this week.
"They can count on our support in their efforts," he added.
Germany and France had come in for criticism from other EU members ahead of the special summit to choose the two leaders on Thursday night, following German Chancellor Angela Merkel's announcement that the two countries would vote together on the posts.
The two new figures, created by the recently passed Lisbon Treaty, will flank European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso in representing the EU around the world.
