BRITISH FOREIGN minister David Miliband has made an impassioned plea for EU leaders to appoint Tony Blair president of the European Council.
Amid increasing opposition to a Blair candidacy for the new EU job created by the Lisbon Treaty, Mr Miliband warned yesterday that the union needed to appoint someone of a global stature or risk becoming irrelevant.
“It would be very odd if Europe shirked from the need for strong leadership at this time,” said Mr Miliband, who warned that a G2 of China and the US would emerge if Europe “doesn’t get its act together” on foreign policy.
At an EU foreign affairs meeting, Mr Miliband said the existing system whereby the EU presidency rotates between different states is the “enemy” of EU foreign policy with regard to its relationship with emerging powers. He said the appointment of council president was pivotal to the EU’s future.
“If Blair is a candidate, he will be a good choice. He is a persuasive advocate, a genuine European and a real coalition-builder,” said Mr Miliband, who added it is not a debate between big and small states but about the best possible candidate who would represent the EU abroad.
The job of president of the European Council will be created when the Lisbon Treaty enters into force. EU leaders are expected to discuss the job description at a summit in Brussels this week, although a decision on a name is expected to be delayed until it is clear that Eurosceptic Czech president Václav Klaus will sign the treaty to complete its ratification in all 27 states.
Sweden’s European affairs minister Cecilia Malmström, who chaired yesterday’s meeting because her country holds the EU presidency, said there was still not enough clarity on Czech ratification to begin talks on the new job.
But there are signs Mr Klaus may be prepared to sign the treaty shortly if the Czech constitutional court rules it is compatible with the Czech constitution and he wins an opt-out from the charter of fundamental rights.
This is aimed at shielding the Czech Republic from property claims from ethnic Germans expelled after the second World War. Most EU diplomats expect the opt-out can be agreed in the form of a guarantee at this week’s summit, along with a similar opt-out for its neighbour Slovakia.
The potential resolution to the Czech block on ratification has increased speculation in Brussels that former British prime minister, Mr Blair, will make a dramatic return to EU politics.
However, several EU states have expressed doubts in recent weeks about the merits of appointing such a charismatic personality to the new job. Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Poland are lobbying to restrict the post to more of a ceremonial role rather than that of powerful player in EU politics.
There are also doubts about appointing a politician who, as British prime minister, deeply divided the EU by supporting the US invasion of Iraq in 2003. Mr Blair will also shortly face questioning from a new British inquiry into the origins of the Iraq conflict, which could prove politically sensitive. Taoiseach Brian Cowen has already offered his support to Mr Blair. But there are signs that former Blair advocates such as France are now wavering in their support. French foreign minister Bernard Kouchner said yesterday he personally supported Blair but added there were several other candidates.
Foreign minister Micheál Martin said most states represented at the meeting were “playing their cards very close to their chests” with regard to who they supported. He said his own view was that charisma was an important quality that would help a council president to engage with other world leaders.
Other names linked to the job include Dutch prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende, French prime minister François Fillon, and former Finnish prime minister Paavo Lipponen.
The post will form part of a package of new jobs that includes a beefed-up EU foreign affairs chief and secretary general of the council.