By: BBC News
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.
The Belgian Prime Minister Herman van Rompuy is widely expected to get the job, with French and German support.
The socialist group of EU leaders is now urging the appointment of EU Trade Commissioner Baroness Catherine Ashton as the new foreign policy supremo.
A UK government spokesman revealed the dramatic twist in the British position.
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.
The heads of the 27 EU member nations are still divided over which candidates to choose, and after-dinner negotiations are expected to last into the night.
Mr Blair had been an early favourite for president and was the highest-profile candidate.
Lisbon Treaty
The EU leaders will have 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.
Similarly, the presidency is expected to go to a centre-right politician and the post of foreign affairs chief to the centre-left.
The BBC’s Europe editor Gavin Hewitt said Mr Blair had been 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.
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.
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.
‘Excellent candidate’
Mr van Rompuy is seen as a consensus-builder and 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.
Also in the frame to be president are former Latvian president Vaira Vike-Freiberga and Luxembourg’s Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker.
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”.
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.
BBC correspondent Oana Lungescu says former Italian prime minister Massimo D’Alema has emerged as one of the favourites for the post.
But his communist past makes him unpopular for many Eastern Europeans, our correspondent says – so several other candidates have been mentioned, including British EU trade commissioner Baroness Ashton and another commissioner, Olli Rehn of Finland.
The European Union hopes to decide on Thursday who will be the new president to chair EU summits and represent the bloc on the world stage. The way was cleared by the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty by the Czech Republic. There is intense speculation about potential candidates.
HERMAN VAN ROMPUY – BELGIUMThe low-key Belgian Prime Minister, Herman van Rompuy, is tipped as a frontrunner for the role of president, according to diplomats.
He is seen as a consensus-builder who would not upstage the leaders of the big powers who call the shots in Europe. He has been described as pragmatic rather than charismatic and is reported to be backed by France and Germany.
A Christian Democrat, he was appointed prime minister of Belgium in December 2008, having held the position of president of the lower house of parliament since July 2007.
During his time as budget minister in the Christian Democrat-led government, he took a tough stance on balancing the economic books, drastically reducing the country’s public debt.
An avid blogger, the 62-year-old has also penned several books, mainly on social and political issues.
He is seen in linguistically divided Belgium as a unifying force, taking an even-handed approach to resolving conflicts between the Dutch and French-speaking communities – skills that would serve him well if he secured the new top job.
TONY BLAIR – UKThe former British prime minister has not put himself forward for the role – but nor has he done anything to suggest he is not interested.
In a speech in January, Mr Blair called for new ideas on Europe
UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown has called him “an excellent candidate” and Foreign Secretary David Miliband is also urging Britain’s EU partners to appoint him.
But the UK’s opposition Conservative Party – widely expected to win a general election next spring – has made clear its absolute opposition to the idea of Mr Blair getting the job.
Mr Blair is dividing EU states. At the EU summit in late October there was a deafening silence about his possible candidacy – apart from the UK government’s praise for him.
Italy’s Silvio Berlusconi – a friend of the Blair family – has given him wholehearted backing. France’s Nicolas Sarkozy started by signalling support for him, saying Europe needed a big-hitter, but also said it was a problem that Britain was outside the eurozone.
The smaller countries, particularly Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands, fear their interests would not be represented by a high-profile president.
And there are misgivings in many capitals about Mr Blair’s role in backing the Iraq war.
Since leaving office as British PM, Tony Blair has worked as Middle East envoy for the US, UN, EU and Russia.
JEAN-CLAUDE JUNCKER – LUXEMBOURGThere are few European figures with credentials as impeccable as Luxembourg’s prime minister.
He is the EU’s longest-serving PM and head of the Eurogroup of finance ministers from eurozone member states. He has been at the heart of major EU negotiations since the signing of the Maastricht Treaty in February 1992.
Mr Juncker may win the support of smaller countries
Mr Juncker is also one of the very few to have declared an interest in the job of president.
“If I were called on, I would have no reason to refuse,” he said.
While President Sarkozy might be happy with a centre-right candidate from Luxembourg, Gordon Brown would be unlikely to support him because of his federalist reputation. The newer member states might also be reluctant to be led by one of “old Europe’s” senior statesmen.
But smaller states would see him as someone prepared to build consensus and listen to their views.
Given his extensive EU experience and status as Europe’s longest-serving leader, he is seen as a frontrunner.
JAN-PETER BALKENENDE – THE NETHERLANDSA third Benelux leader is seen to be a strong contender for the job – the Dutch prime minister.
Mr Balkenende has boosted the Dutch presence on the world stage
Jan-Peter Balkenende has remained at the helm of four successive Dutch governments, and has boosted the role of the Netherlands on the world stage, recently negotiating invitations to G8 and G20 summits.
Mr Balkenende hails from the centre-right – which may give him appeal for the predominantly centre-right EU leaders. He is also a veteran of Dutch coalition politics, and that may appeal to the smaller countries that want their voices to be heard at the top table.
Yet he will always struggle to shake off the comment made by Karel De Gucht, a former Belgian foreign minister, who compared him to Harry Potter.
VAIRA VIKE-FREIBERGA – LATVIAVaira Vike-Freiberga, 71, the former president of Latvia, is being pushed by her government and that of neighbouring Lithuania.
Sweden’s EU commissioner Margot Wallstrom has been urging EU leaders to appoint a woman.
Ms Vike-Freiberga was the first female president of Latvia – a former Soviet republic which joined the EU and Nato in 2004.
Vaira Vike-Freiberga was Latvia’s first female president
Dubbed the Iron Lady of Latvia, she served for eight years after being elected in 1999 and re-elected in 2003. She was a staunch supporter of intervention in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Lithuania’s Foreign Minister, Vygaudas Usackas, said she would be “a dynamic new face for Europe, with robust, strategic visions”.
Although she was born in Riga, Ms Vike-Freiberga’s family fled the Soviet occupation of Latvia after World War II, and she lived in Germany and Morocco before working as a psychology professor in Canada.
She returned from exile to Latvia in 1998.
WOLFGANG SCHUESSEL – AUSTRIAThe former chancellor of Austria is an outside bet, but as a conservative he could be well placed to win the support of EU leaders.
Mr Schuessel is parliamentary leader of his conservative People’s Party
Austria has never had a significant figure at the top of the Brussels hierarchy, despite becoming a member in 1995. Nevertheless, it is at the heart of Europe, a participant in all the EU’s major initiatives such as the Schengen border-free accord and the euro.
As chancellor, Mr Schuessel was widely criticised for going into coalition government with the Freedom Party of nationalist leader Joerg Haider in 1999.
For a period, Austria was shunned by the rest of the EU. But Mr Schuessel was later praised for weakening the Freedom Party’s influence, leading to its fall from grace and eventual internal division.
He may seem a dark horse in this presidential race, but could attract German support.
FELIPE GONZALEZ – SPAINA long shot for the job but with the necessary political weight and EU experience.
Mr Gonzalez is one of Europe’s most respected political figures
Felipe Gonzalez spent 14 years as Spanish prime minister (1982-96) and took Spain into the EU.
He is still a popular figure in Spain, where his name has been linked with the EU presidency.
As a socialist, he would garner the support of the Spanish government if he chose to stand. But his politics might be a disadvantage in the eyes of most EU leaders.
JOHN BRUTON – IRELANDThe former Irish prime minister is currently the EU ambassador to Washington, but is finishing his five-year term and has thrown his hat into the ring for the EU presidency.
Mr Bruton has spent five years as the EU’s representative in Washington
He headed up a three-party coalition government in Ireland between 1994 and 1997 at a crucial time for the Northern Ireland peace process.
His supporters also credit him with putting the Republic of Ireland on the road to prosperity that would last up to a decade.
His profile as the EU’s man in Washington and his time served as the vice-president of the centre-right European People’s Party (EPP) give him significant name recognition in Brussels and could make him a strong outside bet.
TOOMAS HENDRIK ILVES – ESTONIAThe Estonian government put forward President Toomas Hendrik Ilves, a centrist politician, as a contender for both the EU presidency and the new foreign affairs post this month.
President Ilves previously served as Estonian foreign minister
A former diplomat and journalist, he has served as Estonian president for three years. He played an important role in negotiating Estonia’s EU accession, which took place in 2004.
He grew up in the US. That could play well with those – especially fellow East Europeans – who argue that the EU needs to forge closer ties to the US.
But older EU member states might consider him inexperienced in the workings of EU politics and lacking influence among Europe’s heavyweights.
European Council leaders are set to elect a president under the rules of the newly-adopted Lisbon Treaty. But how does the position compare to that of other presidents, such as the President of the United States?
President of European Council President of United States of America
European Union:
Population: 490 million
GDP: $18.7tnUnited States:
Population: 304 million
GDP: $14.9tn
Military: 3,800 troops on European military missions Military: 250,000 on deployment (Iraq/Afghanistan)
Land mass: Land mass:
Elected by:
European Council leaders. Liable to select candidate by consensus. If vote held, each country has different number of votes. Winner must gain 258 out of 345 votes from at least 18 of the 27 countries.Elected by:
Electoral College system. In general election, must win 270 out of 538 electoral college votes. President Barack Obama won 67 million votes in popular vote.
Term of two and half years – renewable once. Term of four years – renewable once.
Salary reported to be 350,000 euros ($521,374) a year President earns 268,521 euros ($400,000) a year
Position and key roles: Position and key roles:
Chairs European Council. Duty to “facilitate cohesion and consensus”, without national bias.
Head of state. Partisan, elected on own platform of policies, usually with support of a party, eg Republican or Democratic.
Represents EU abroad on issues concerning its common foreign and security policy. Negotiates treaties. Directs foreign policy. Can sign executive orders without Congress approval.
No powers of veto. Power of Veto – President must sign any bill passed by Congress before it becomes law.
Must report to European Parliament after each European Council meeting. President must report to Congress by delivering State of Union address.
Military control:
No influence on military. EU Military staff receives “taskings” from EU Military Committee (which represents defence chiefs of all member states).Military control:
Commander-in-Chief of armed forces – responsible for strategy. Congress must approve going to war but president can decide when to launch nuclear missiles.What will Europe president and foreign minister do?
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This week European leaders are to meet in Brussels to decide who should fill two of the most important posts in the European Union.
There are two jobs – president of the Council – also known as the president of Europe – and the high representative for foreign affairs – in other words a European foreign minister.
Both of them were created by the Treaty of Lisbon to try and improve the workings of the EU and give it a stronger voice on the world stage.
But whoever gets the jobs, what will they actually do?
Europe Correspondent, Dominic Hughes investigates.
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