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Leaders to discuss Blair EU post Blair 'excellent' for EU job - PM
(about 6 hours later)
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 has said Tony Blair is an "excellent candidate" to be the first president of the European Council, at a meeting of EU leaders in Brussels.
Gordon Brown is expected lobby for his predecessor to get the job, which will be created by the Lisbon Treaty. But the British PM said his predecessor had not yet declared his candidature and the post will not exist until the Lisbon Treaty has been ratified.
But until the treaty is ratified it is not know whether the job will be high-profile or a low-key chairman's role. When that happens, the field will open to candidates, he said.
Foreign Secretary David Miliband said Europe needed a "strong voice" and denied Mr Blair was a divisive figure. Until the treaty is ratified it is not know whether the job will be high-profile or a low-key chairman's role.
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. Downing Street sources say Mr Brown attended a meeting of the socialist group in the European Parliament and immediately raised the issue of Mr Blair's possible candidature.
"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." 'Excellent person'
Big issues The BBC understands he said that the former British PM had a proven track record of successful negotiations in Europe and had been a hard-headed champion for Europe.
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. At a press conference in Brussels Mr Brown said the main issues being discussed were the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty and climate change.
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 he added: "There is going to be discussion on the margins of this council about the appointment of commissioners and appointment of the president of the council.
But his Tory shadow William Hague said the creation of a president itself showed that voters had not been treated "honestly". We Britain are supporting Tony Blair's candidature Gordon Brown class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8328238.stm">Blair and the EU presidency
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. "Let me say very clearly that we, the British government, believe that Tony Blair would be an excellent candidate and an excellent person to hold the job as president of the council."
"I believe that his credentials are well proven, his international experience is well known, his expertise on environmental, economic and security issues is known to everybody throughout Europe as well as known throughout the world."
But he added that Mr Blair had not declared himself as a candidate and there was as yet no agreement that the position be set up.
'British interest'
He said the group of socialist leaders had set up a group to look at the issue over the "next few days and weeks".
But he said there was a "general view" Mr Blair was a good candidate but added: "There will inevitably emerge other candidates and they will have to be taken into consideration as well."
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 frameIt 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
"We, Britain, are supporting Tony Blair's candidature," he added.
He said it would be in the "British national interest" to have a Briton in the new role and he was "surprised" that the Conservatives were opposed to Mr Blair getting the job.
And asked whether European divisions over the Iraq war would hurt Mr Blair's candidature, Mr Brown said while it had been "very divisive" in the past - it was not the main issue in Europe today.
In future climate change, jobs, growth and the economy would be the focus, he said.
Mr Brown's comments represent his most enthusiastic support yet for the potential candidacy of Mr Blair, with whom he had a long-running rivalry when he was chancellor.
Earlier Foreign Secretary David Miliband said Europe needed a "strong voice" and denied he was a divisive figure in Europe.
Big issues
But shadow foreign secretary William Hague said those backing the Lisbon Treaty - which the Conservatives campaigned for a referendum on - 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.
"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.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 Meanwhile Czech President Vaclav Klaus is demanding an opt-out from the Lisbon 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.
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.
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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.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.
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."