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Blair out of EU presidency race Belgian PM named as EU president
(20 minutes later)
Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair has dropped out of the race to be European Council President - just as EU leaders meet to decide who to appoint. EU leaders have chosen the Belgian Prime Minister, Herman van Rompuy, to be the first permanent European Council President, diplomats say.
Belgian PM Herman van Rompuy has been put forward for the job, with French and German support, diplomats say. The other top job created by the Lisbon Treaty - foreign affairs supremo - will go to the EU Trade Commissioner, Baroness Catherine Ashton from the UK.
They say Sweden, the holder of the EU presidency, has also proposed EU Trade Commissioner Baroness Catherine Ashton as the new foreign policy supremo. Both are seen as low-key consensual politicians.
Earlier, the UK government said it was no longer pushing for former PM Tony Blair to get the presidency post.
Mr Van Rompuy had crucial French and German support. He has a reputation as a coalition builder, having taken charge of the linguistically divided Belgian government and steered it out of a crisis.
A UK government spokesman revealed the dramatic twist in the British position.A UK government spokesman revealed the dramatic twist in the British position.
The UK persuaded the other six leaders in the socialist group to back the UK's Baroness Ashton, having dropped Tony Blair. The UK persuaded the other six leaders in the socialist group to back the Baroness Ashton, having dropped Tony Blair.
There are now signs that a deal on the top jobs is falling into place. EU leaders met in Brussels to select their first full-time president and the High Representative for Foreign Affairs - new posts created by the Lisbon Treaty, which will come into force on 1 December.
EU leaders are in Brussels to select their first full-time president and the High Representative for Foreign Affairs - new posts created by the Lisbon Treaty, which will come into force on 1 December.
Wanted: Someone with star qualityWanted: Someone with star quality
Going into the meeting the heads of the 27 EU member nations had various candidates to choose from and after-dinner negotiations were expected to continue late into the night.Going into the meeting the heads of the 27 EU member nations had various candidates to choose from and after-dinner negotiations were expected to continue late into the night.
Mr Blair had been an early favourite for president and was the highest-profile candidate.Mr Blair had been an early favourite for president and was the highest-profile candidate.
Another contender, Dutch PM Jan-Peter Balkenende, ruled himself out of the contest as the meeting got under way.Another contender, Dutch PM Jan-Peter Balkenende, ruled himself out of the contest as the meeting got under way.
Seeking balanceSeeking balance
The EU leaders are having a working dinner together to negotiate the appointments.The EU leaders are having a working dinner together to negotiate the appointments.
They are widely expected to strive for a balance in the two posts, with one likely to be filled by a candidate from one of the bigger EU states, the other from a smaller country. They were reported to be striving for a balance in the two posts, with one filled by a candidate from one of the bigger EU states, the other from a smaller country.
Similarly, the presidency is expected to go to a centre-right politician and the post of foreign affairs chief to the centre-left. Similarly, the presidency was expected to go to a centre-right politician and the post of foreign affairs chief to the centre-left.
By abandoning Mr Blair, and persuading the seven-strong socialist group of governments to back Lady Ashton for the foreign policy position, Prime Minister Gordon Brown may well have broken the logjam and vaulted a British candidate right into one of Europe's top jobs, the BBC's Jonny Dymond reports from Brussels.
Quite a few countries are deliberately shielding their hands, waiting to see what happens when the leaders meet face to face Gavin Hewitt's EU blogQuite a few countries are deliberately shielding their hands, waiting to see what happens when the leaders meet face to face Gavin Hewitt's EU blog
The combination of Mr Van Rompuy and Lady Ashton would also achieve the balance that EU leaders seek, he says. Both are seen as low-key consensual figures. The combination of Mr Van Rompuy and Lady Ashton would also achieve the balance that EU leaders seek, the BBC's Jonny Dymond says.
The BBC's Europe editor Gavin Hewitt says Mr Blair was an early frontrunner for the presidency, but some leaders feared he would overshadow them and so the mood shifted in favour of a lower-profile name instead.The BBC's Europe editor Gavin Hewitt says Mr Blair was an early frontrunner for the presidency, but some leaders feared he would overshadow them and so the mood shifted in favour of a lower-profile name instead.
The EU president will chair regular meetings of the European Council at which decisions are taken about the political position of the bloc.The EU president will chair regular meetings of the European Council at which decisions are taken about the political position of the bloc.
However, correspondents say the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, as the post is officially known, could have an even more powerful role.However, correspondents say the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, as the post is officially known, could have an even more powerful role.
THE PRESIDENT'S ROLE Chosen by 27 member states by qualified majority voteTwo-and-a-half-year termCan be re-elected onceChairs EU summitsDrives forward the work of EU Council of MinistersFacilitates cohesion and consensusRepresents the EU on the world stage Send us your commentsTHE PRESIDENT'S ROLE Chosen by 27 member states by qualified majority voteTwo-and-a-half-year termCan be re-elected onceChairs EU summitsDrives forward the work of EU Council of MinistersFacilitates cohesion and consensusRepresents the EU on the world stage Send us your comments
Whoever is chosen will have a seat as vice-president of the European Commission, as well as a budget worth billions of euros and a new diplomatic service of up to 5,000 people. The foreign policy chief will have a seat as vice-president of the European Commission, as well as a budget worth billions of euros and a new diplomatic service of up to 5,000 people.
Mr Van Rompuy is seen as a consensus-builder and has been described as a pragmatic rather than a charismatic figure. Mr Van Rompuy has been described as a pragmatic rather than a charismatic figure.
During his time as budget minister in Belgium's Christian Democrat-led government, he took a tough stance on balancing the economic books, drastically reducing the country's public debt.During his time as budget minister in Belgium's Christian Democrat-led government, he took a tough stance on balancing the economic books, drastically reducing the country's public debt.
Mr Blair had not put himself forward for the role, but had not ruled himself out either.Mr Blair had not put himself forward for the role, but had not ruled himself out either.
Currently working as Middle East envoy for the US, UN, EU and Russia, he was earlier described by Mr Brown as an "excellent candidate".Currently working as Middle East envoy for the US, UN, EU and Russia, he was earlier described by Mr Brown as an "excellent candidate".
The UK's Foreign Secretary David Miliband had been tipped as a possible contender for the job of EU foreign affairs chief, but he has said he is not available. The UK's Foreign Secretary David Miliband had been tipped as a possible contender for the job of EU foreign affairs chief, but said he was not available.