EU edges closer to decision on whether to give top job to Blair
14:43, October 30, 2009 
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By Paul Ames
To Blair or not to Blair? That was the question facing EU leaders at their gathering on Thursday: Whether to award the post of "president of Europe" to the charismatic and controversial former British prime minister or find a blander, more consensual candidate as their future chairman.
Although several worthy European leaders and former leaders are also being considered for the post, the debate has developed into a Tony Blair versus the others battle, with barbs beginning to fly among Europe's political classes over the merits and demerits of the man who led Britain for 10 years up to 2007.
Middle East envoy Tony Blair speaks during the Israeli Presidential Conference in Jerusalem October 20, 2009.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
In fact, the summit appeared to put a dent in Blair's chances as he failed to secure the backing of his own political group -- the European Socialists -- many of whom are dubious about his record in promoting free market economy and, most of all, his determined support for George W. Bush's war in Iraq.
"I'd like there to be more candidates," said Spain's Socialist Prime Minister Jose Luis Zapatero. The Socialists appeared more interested in seeing one of their own in another soon-to-be-created EU job, namely that of a high representative for foreign policy.
But the man who followed Blair into No. 10 Downing Street did go to bat for him.
"We, the British government, believe Tony Blair would be an excellent candidate and an excellent president," British Prime Minister Gordon Brown told a news conference, putting aside his notoriously testy relationship with Blair when he served as his finance minister and designated successor.
However, even in Britain, Blair is a divisive figure. The Conservative Party, in opposition but widely expected to win power in elections early next year, is backing a "Ditch Blair Project" to ensure the former Labor leader was not headed to Brussels.
The media frenzy about Blair's chances against a bunch of European leaders, including the prime ministers of Luxembourg and the Netherlands, former presidents of Ireland and Latvia, and the former prime minister of Finland, played down one key element of the debate: The job they are competing for does not actually exist.
The post of president of the European Council is a fixture of the EU's Lisbon Treaty, a blueprint to overhaul the EU's institutions. The treaty was agreed on by leaders of all 27 EU nations in 2007, but has yet to come into force because Czech President Vaclav Klaus has yet to sign it.
Klaus believes the treaty would undermine the independence of his country and has refused to sign it, even though the Czech parliament has voted in favor and all 26 other EU nations have ratified. The British Conservatives, who share Klaus' euro-skeptic views, had hoped the Czechs could hold up the treaty until they got into power and reverse Brown's approval of the treaty.
However, Klaus' pretexts for not signing the treaty are slipping away.
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To Blair or not to Blair? That was the question facing EU leaders at their gathering on Thursday: Whether to award the post of "president of Europe" to the charismatic and controversial former British prime minister or find a blander, more consensual candidate as their future chairman.
Although several worthy European leaders and former leaders are also being considered for the post, the debate has developed into a Tony Blair versus the others battle, with barbs beginning to fly among Europe's political classes over the merits and demerits of the man who led Britain for 10 years up to 2007.
Middle East envoy Tony Blair speaks during the Israeli Presidential Conference in Jerusalem October 20, 2009.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
In fact, the summit appeared to put a dent in Blair's chances as he failed to secure the backing of his own political group -- the European Socialists -- many of whom are dubious about his record in promoting free market economy and, most of all, his determined support for George W. Bush's war in Iraq.
"I'd like there to be more candidates," said Spain's Socialist Prime Minister Jose Luis Zapatero. The Socialists appeared more interested in seeing one of their own in another soon-to-be-created EU job, namely that of a high representative for foreign policy.
But the man who followed Blair into No. 10 Downing Street did go to bat for him.
"We, the British government, believe Tony Blair would be an excellent candidate and an excellent president," British Prime Minister Gordon Brown told a news conference, putting aside his notoriously testy relationship with Blair when he served as his finance minister and designated successor.
However, even in Britain, Blair is a divisive figure. The Conservative Party, in opposition but widely expected to win power in elections early next year, is backing a "Ditch Blair Project" to ensure the former Labor leader was not headed to Brussels.
The media frenzy about Blair's chances against a bunch of European leaders, including the prime ministers of Luxembourg and the Netherlands, former presidents of Ireland and Latvia, and the former prime minister of Finland, played down one key element of the debate: The job they are competing for does not actually exist.
The post of president of the European Council is a fixture of the EU's Lisbon Treaty, a blueprint to overhaul the EU's institutions. The treaty was agreed on by leaders of all 27 EU nations in 2007, but has yet to come into force because Czech President Vaclav Klaus has yet to sign it.
Klaus believes the treaty would undermine the independence of his country and has refused to sign it, even though the Czech parliament has voted in favor and all 26 other EU nations have ratified. The British Conservatives, who share Klaus' euro-skeptic views, had hoped the Czechs could hold up the treaty until they got into power and reverse Brown's approval of the treaty.
However, Klaus' pretexts for not signing the treaty are slipping away.
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http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90856/6799205.pdf