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| Version 8 | Version 9 |
|---|---|
| Blow to Blair's hope of EU post | Blow to Blair's hope of EU post |
| (about 1 hour 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. |
| Gordon Brown said Mr Blair would make an "excellent president" but there were "many candidates who may come forward". | Gordon Brown said Mr Blair would make an "excellent president" but there were "many candidates who may come forward". |
| Meanwhile ratification of the Lisbon Treaty, which creates the post, moved closer after EU leaders struck a deal with the Czech president. | Meanwhile ratification of the Lisbon Treaty, which creates the post, moved closer after EU leaders struck a deal with the Czech president. |
| Mr Brown said they had cleared the way for the treaty to be ratified. | Mr Brown said they had cleared the way for the treaty to be ratified. |
| No 10 has signalled that a defeat for Mr Blair's candidacy is now "a clear possibility". | No 10 has signalled that a defeat for Mr Blair's candidacy is now "a clear possibility". |
| 'Excellent president' | 'Excellent president' |
| The former British PM has not declared himself a candidate but British ministers, including Mr Brown who is at a meeting of EU leaders in Brussels, have been talking him up for days. | The former British PM has not declared himself a candidate but British ministers, including Mr Brown who is at a meeting of EU leaders in Brussels, have been talking him up for days. |
| Speaking at the end of the summit, Mr Brown said: "I think I am right to say that Britain has someone in Tony Blair who would make an excellent president of the Council of the European Union. | Speaking at the end of the summit, Mr Brown said: "I think I am right to say that Britain has someone in Tony Blair who would make an excellent president of the Council of the European Union. |
| "I think there are many people who are members of the council who accept that and believe that to be true." | "I think there are many people who are members of the council who accept that and believe that to be true." |
| Gordon Brown reiterates his support for Tony Blair as President of the EU Council | |
| But he added: "I recognise also that there are many candidates who may come forward, some have already indicated their intention to do so, but I do believe that Tony Blair will remain an excellent candidate." | But he added: "I recognise also that there are many candidates who may come forward, some have already indicated their intention to do so, but I do believe that Tony Blair will remain an excellent candidate." |
| At the summit EU leaders agreed to grant the Czech Republic, the only EU state not to have signed up to the treaty, an opt-out from the EU's Charter of Fundamental Rights. | At the summit EU leaders agreed to grant the Czech Republic, the only EU state not to have signed up to the treaty, an opt-out from the EU's Charter of Fundamental Rights. |
| Mr Brown said he believed that the meeting had "cleared the way" for the Czech Republic to ratify the Lisbon Treaty - should the country's constitutional court rule in its favour next week. | Mr Brown said he believed that the meeting had "cleared the way" for the Czech Republic to ratify the Lisbon Treaty - should the country's constitutional court rule in its favour next week. |
| Once that happened European member states would discuss the position of the presidency and the commissioners, he said. | Once that happened European member states would discuss the position of the presidency and the commissioners, he said. |
| 'Slim' chance | 'Slim' chance |
| If it is ratified it will also increase pressure on the Conservatives - who oppose the treaty and say there should have been a referendum on it - to spell out what they will do if they win power and it has come into force. | If it is ratified it will also increase pressure on the Conservatives - who oppose the treaty and say there should have been a referendum on it - to spell out what they will do if they win power and it has come into force. |
| Conservative leader David Cameron told the BBC: "If that comes to pass we'll set out straight away what our approach to that important issue will be." | Conservative leader David Cameron told the BBC: "If that comes to pass we'll set out straight away what our approach to that important issue will be." |
| 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". |
| POSSIBLE PRESIDENTS? Tony Blair - former British prime ministerJean-Claude Juncker - Luxembourg's prime ministerJan Peter Balkenende - Dutch prime ministerVaira Vike-Freiberga - former president of LatviaWolfgang Schuessel - former chancellor of AustriaFelipe Gonzalez - former Spanish prime ministerJohn Bruton - former Irish prime minister Names in the frame Gavin Hewitt on Blair's prospects Send us your comments | POSSIBLE PRESIDENTS? Tony Blair - former British prime ministerJean-Claude Juncker - Luxembourg's prime ministerJan Peter Balkenende - Dutch prime ministerVaira Vike-Freiberga - former president of LatviaWolfgang Schuessel - former chancellor of AustriaFelipe Gonzalez - former Spanish prime ministerJohn Bruton - former Irish prime minister Names in the frame Gavin Hewitt on Blair's prospects Send us your comments |
| A lack of support from European socialist leaders has served to undermine Mr Blair's chances. | A lack of support from European socialist leaders has served to undermine Mr Blair's chances. |
| 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. | 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. | This would leave the presidency open to a centre-right candidate, thereby ruling Mr Blair out. |