EU LEADERS have failed to settle their differences in “difficult” talks over the first president of the European Council only two days ahead of a special summit to make the appointment.
As Swedish prime minister Fredrik Reinfeldt steps up his efforts to forge a consensus among his deadlocked colleagues, there is still no sign of any imminent breakthrough over the appointment or the related selection of a new foreign policy chief for the bloc.
Sweden’s EU presidency conceded last night that the negotiation would continue on Friday if leaders still remained apart after their dinner summit on Thursday night.
Equally uncertain is the destination of the post of secretary general of the European Council, a largely administrative position to support the work of the new foreign policy chief.
“It is difficult, but everybody knows that we need to appoint three people. It’s obviously a package, but nothing is agreed until everything is agreed,” said Sweden’s minister for EU affairs Cecelia Malmstrom.
While arguing that there was ample time to agree a deal, she accepted that no single candidate has emerged to the fore for any of the jobs. She said the consequence of not agreeing the appointment on Thursday was that the talks would have to continue.
“I got the question, if we didn’t get agreement would we move on and of course we would move on,” she said. “It’s only Monday. Why do we talk about failing? This is going to be done on Thursday.”
Belgian prime minister Herman van Rompuy is still the favourite for the presidency of the council, but informed sources said it remained uncertain whether all EU leaders would back him.
While British prime minister Gordon Brown is still lobbying for his predecessor Tony Blair, informed sources said one current focus in the talks was to find a suitable British candidate for the foreign policy job in the light of Mr Blair’s likely elimination from the race.
British foreign secretary David Miliband, once a favourite for that position, indicated in clear terms last week that he would not accept the job.
Although Mr Brown’s spokesman told The Irish Times that the British government will “not have a candidate” for the foreign policy post, well-placed sources in Brussels are waiting to see whether former EU trade commissioner Peter Mandelson might enter the fray.
Mr Mandelson’s own views remain unclear but his political clout would be an advantage to him if he declared. However, it remains the case that the British government is unable to back him or any candidate for the foreign portfolio while Mr Blair remains its candidate for the presidency of the council.
Mr Brown’s spokesman said Mr Blair “firmly remains our candidate”, adding that it was Mr Blair’s decision to declare his interest in the top job or not. “Gordon Brown has been absolutely consistent on this. He remains to be our candidate, if he wishes to be put forward for the chair of the council,” he said.
While the talks may lead to only one candidate being put forward for each of the positions at the summit, the spokesman said that such an outcome might not prove to be the case.
Margot Wallstrom, a vice-president of the European Commission, yesterday led calls for women to be considered for the three positions and for more jobs on the incoming commission to be allocated to women.
Although Taoiseach Brian Cowen has indicated that he will soon fill the Irish vacancy on the incoming European Commission, the timing of the appointment is perceived to be in the balance.
Former Fianna Fáil minister Maire Geoghegan Quinn remains to the fore, although there are indications that the prospects of rival Pat Cox, former president of the European Parliament, may have momentarily improved over the weekend.
German deputy foreign minister Werner Hoyer said his country was sitting out the campaign for the two top EU jobs because it has its sights set on jobs further down the line.
Such remarks were taken as an indication that the German government is angling for Bundesbank chief Axel Weber to succeed Jean-Claude Trichet as European Central Bank president in 2011.