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Blow to Blair's hopes of EU job Blow to Blair's hopes of EU job
(30 minutes later)
Tony Blair's hopes of becoming president of the European Council are fading after his supporters failed to secure the backing of EU leaders.Tony Blair's hopes of becoming president of the European Council are fading after his supporters failed to secure the backing of EU leaders.
Earlier Gordon Brown said Mr Blair would be an "excellent candidate" but Downing Street is now less optimistic.Earlier Gordon Brown said Mr Blair would be an "excellent candidate" but Downing Street is now less optimistic.
The BBC has learned No 10 has signalled that a defeat for Mr Blair's candidacy is now "a clear possibility".The BBC has learned No 10 has signalled that a defeat for Mr Blair's candidacy is now "a clear possibility".
Ratification of the Lisbon treaty moved closer after EU leaders in Brussels struck a deal with the Czech president.Ratification of the Lisbon treaty moved closer after EU leaders in Brussels struck a deal with the Czech president.
Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, whose country holds the EU presidency, said: "The road to ratification now stands open."
The BBC's Jonny Dymond in Brussels said Mr Blair's chances of becoming the first president of the European Council - a post created by the treaty - seemed "slimmer today than before".The BBC's Jonny Dymond in Brussels said Mr Blair's chances of becoming the first president of the European Council - a post created by the treaty - seemed "slimmer today than before".
Our correspondent said a lack of support from European socialist leaders has served to undermined Mr Blair's chances.Our correspondent said a lack of support from European socialist leaders has served to undermined Mr Blair's chances.
Earlier Mr Brown had told socialist leaders meeting at the EU summit that they should "get real" and grasp a unique opportunity to get a "strong progressive politician" like Mr Blair as president. Earlier Mr Brown had told the leaders meeting at the EU summit that they should "get real" and grasp a unique opportunity to get a "strong progressive politician" like Mr Blair as president.
Gordon Brown: "I believe his credentials are well proven"Gordon Brown: "I believe his credentials are well proven"
However the leaders failed to back any prospective candidate and have now set up a three-man team to decide on their position.However the leaders failed to back any prospective candidate and have now set up a three-man team to decide on their position.
Austrian Chancellor Werner Fayman, who will be one of the three on the panel, expressed doubts about Mr Blair's prospects.Austrian Chancellor Werner Fayman, who will be one of the three on the panel, expressed doubts about Mr Blair's prospects.
Mr Fayman said: "My personal opinion is that the candidate ... should have an especially good relationship with (President Barack) Obama and not stand for a good working relationship with Bush."Mr Fayman said: "My personal opinion is that the candidate ... should have an especially good relationship with (President Barack) Obama and not stand for a good working relationship with Bush."
Spain's Prime Minister Jose Luis Zapatero also failed to endorse Mr Blair. Mr Zapatero said: "We have all heard names. But the work to achieve a larger consensus, that is going to take some time."Spain's Prime Minister Jose Luis Zapatero also failed to endorse Mr Blair. Mr Zapatero said: "We have all heard names. But the work to achieve a larger consensus, that is going to take some time."
Mr Zapatero also raised the prospect that the socialists might instead decide to seek the post of high representative for foreign affairs. This would leave the presidency open to a centre-right candidate, thereby ruling Mr Blair out. Mr Zapatero also raised the prospect that the socialists might instead decide to seek the post of high representative for foreign affairs.
A spokesman for Mr Blair said since the job doesn't yet exist, "there is no campaign and Mr Blair is fully focused on his existing projects." This would leave the presidency open to a centre-right candidate, thereby ruling Mr Blair out.
The prospect of a Blair presidency has also proved controversial in the UK.
Both the Tories and Liberal Democrats have said they would oppose it.
And a YouGov poll in Friday's Daily Telegraph suggested that less than a third of British voters would support Mr Blair's candidacy.
A spokesman for Mr Blair said since the job does not yet exist, "there is no campaign and Mr Blair is fully focused on his existing projects".
Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, whose country holds the EU presidency, said there was no point discussing names until all 27 EU nations had ratified the Lisbon Treaty.
That moment moved closer when EU leaders agreed to grant the Czech Republic an opt-out from the EU's Charter of Fundamental Rights.
The Czech Republic is the only EU member state not to have ratified the treaty, which aims to streamline decision-making and bolster the EU's role on the world stage.
Czech President Vaclav Klaus demanded the opt out from the rights charter, which is attached to the treaty, to protect the country from property claims by ethnic Germans expelled after World War Two.
In the UK, ratification by all 27 member states would increase the pressure on the Conservative Party to set out its position on the treaty.
The Tories have promised a referendum on the treaty if they win the general election but have not yet said what they would do if it has already been ratified by all member states and entered into force.