EU PRESIDENCY: Europe's big countries have sought to rally support for a Franco-German proposal to give the EU two presidents, one for the Commission and the other for the European Council where national governments meet.
But the Convention on the Future of Europe remained hostile to the idea yesterday and representatives from most national governments opposed it.
Britain, Italy and Spain spoke up for the Franco-German plan, which would lead to the Commission President being elected by the European Parliament while EU leaders chose the President of the Council by qualified majority.
The French Foreign Minister, Mr Dominique de Villepin said the Commission President would continue to oversee common policies such as the internal market, trade and competition and the Commission would also retain the sole right to initiate EU legislation. He rejected claims that the two presidents would be in conflict.
"There will be no such rivalry because the functions of the Council and the Commission are and will remain different. Changing the presidency of the Council every six months leads to instability in the Union's priorities and makes it more difficult for citizens and the rest of the world to understand," he said.
Most of the smaller member-states, including Ireland, argue that appointing a permanent President of the Council would do little to solve the problems the six-month, rotating presidency faces after enlargement.
They fear that because the president would be chosen by qualified majority - a system that gives big states greater voting strength - the proposal could be a covert means of increasing the influence of large countries.