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Leaders to discuss Blair EU post Leaders to discuss Blair EU post
(40 minutes later)
European leaders gathering in Brussels are expected to discuss whether former PM Tony Blair should become the new president of the European Council.European leaders gathering in Brussels are expected to discuss whether former PM Tony Blair should become the new president of the European Council.
Gordon Brown is expected lobby for his predecessor to get the job, which will be created by the Lisbon Treaty.Gordon Brown is expected lobby for his predecessor to get the job, which will be created by the Lisbon Treaty.
But until the treaty is ratified it is not know whether the job will be high-profile or a low-key chairman's role.But until the treaty is ratified it is not know whether the job will be high-profile or a low-key chairman's role.
Foreign Secretary David Miliband said Europe needed a "strong voice" and denied Mr Blair was a divisive figure.Foreign Secretary David Miliband said Europe needed a "strong voice" and denied Mr Blair was a divisive figure.
He told the BBC Radio 4's Today programme that examples were "when Tony Blair engaged on the Northern Ireland peace process and showed an ability to build remarkable coalitions there.He told the BBC Radio 4's Today programme that examples were "when Tony Blair engaged on the Northern Ireland peace process and showed an ability to build remarkable coalitions there.
"And I don't think it's right to say that it was Tony Blair that divided Europe on Iraq. It was Iraq that divided Europe on Iraq and that's the key point - he took a clear and strong position.""And I don't think it's right to say that it was Tony Blair that divided Europe on Iraq. It was Iraq that divided Europe on Iraq and that's the key point - he took a clear and strong position."
Big issues
Mr Miliband said the job would be to represent the "agreed common positions of the European Union, its governments and its people" on big issues like climate change on the world stage.Mr Miliband said the job would be to represent the "agreed common positions of the European Union, its governments and its people" on big issues like climate change on the world stage.
It leaves people feeling they have not been dealt with honestly and plainly, which of course they have not been William Hague Brown gives Blair EU job backing EU president: Names in the frame
He accused the Conservatives - who campaigned for a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty and oppose Mr Blair's candidacy - of wanting a "weak voice" for Europe in global affairs.He accused the Conservatives - who campaigned for a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty and oppose Mr Blair's candidacy - of wanting a "weak voice" for Europe in global affairs.
But his Tory shadow William Hague said the creation of a president itself showed that voters had not been treated "honestly".But his Tory shadow William Hague said the creation of a president itself showed that voters had not been treated "honestly".
He said those backing the Lisbon Treaty had argued it was simply meant to streamline European affairs and make them more efficient, yet Mr Miliband was arguing for a powerful presidential figure.He said those backing the Lisbon Treaty had argued it was simply meant to streamline European affairs and make them more efficient, yet Mr Miliband was arguing for a powerful presidential figure.
It leaves people feeling they have not been dealt with honestly and plainly, which of course they have not been William Hague Brown gives Blair EU job backing EU president: Names in the frame
"People of course are going to say: 'Well, if the job is that important, that is a major constitutional change and we should have had the referendum we have all been arguing about for the last few years'."People of course are going to say: 'Well, if the job is that important, that is a major constitutional change and we should have had the referendum we have all been arguing about for the last few years'.
"It leaves people feeling they have not been dealt with honestly and plainly, which of course they have not been.""It leaves people feeling they have not been dealt with honestly and plainly, which of course they have not been."
There is opposition to Mr Blair's candidacy from some smaller EU states which believe the president should come from a country that uses the euro and is part of the border-free Schengen Agreement. Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi backs Mr Blair.
Lisbon Treaty
Officially the summit will be discussing climate change - ahead of the summit in Copenhagen in December - and the Lisbon Treaty, which the Czech Republic has yet to ratify.Officially the summit will be discussing climate change - ahead of the summit in Copenhagen in December - and the Lisbon Treaty, which the Czech Republic has yet to ratify.
Czech President Vaclav Klaus is demanding an opt-out from the treaty's Charter of Fundamental Rights and the Brussels summit must decide what to offer him, as the treaty will only come into force when all 27 EU states have signed up to it.Czech President Vaclav Klaus is demanding an opt-out from the treaty's Charter of Fundamental Rights and the Brussels summit must decide what to offer him, as the treaty will only come into force when all 27 EU states have signed up to it.
But candidates for the new post of president of the European Council, created by the treaty, are also likely to be discussed over meals and in informal meetings. Portraying Kaminski as a neo-Nazi plays into the painful and false stereotype that all Poles are anti-Semitic Michael Schudrich class="" href="/today/hi/today/newsid_8331000/8331339.stm">'Distortion' over Kaminski comments
BBC Europe editor Gavin Hewitt said candidates for the new president of the European Council was likely to be discussed informally over dinner on Thursday night and more might be revealed about whether leaders favour a charismatic presidential figure or a less high-profile chairman.
Mr Blair has not confirmed he is in the running for the role but British ministers have been talking him up over the past few days. Luxembourg PM Jean-Claude Juncker has also been touted as a candidate.Mr Blair has not confirmed he is in the running for the role but British ministers have been talking him up over the past few days. Luxembourg PM Jean-Claude Juncker has also been touted as a candidate.
The BBC's Europe correspondent Jonny Diamond said there was serious opposition to Mr Blair's candidacy from many countries and only when EU leaders had decided what sort of job it should be would it be clear whether the former British PM was right for it. During the interview Mr Hague again refused to confirm what the Conservatives will do if the Lisbon Treaty is ratified and the Conservatives win power at the next election.
He said as people believed the treaty would soon be ratified, the party would set out its position "very quickly". Asked to rule out a referendum, he said: "We are not in the business of ruling things in or out."