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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Talk of Blair EU role played down | Talk of Blair EU role played down |
| (1 day later) | |
| Ministers have played down speculation Tony Blair could be offered the job of president of the European Council. | Ministers have played down speculation Tony Blair could be offered the job of president of the European Council. |
| The role - dubbed "president of Europe" - will be created under the terms of the new EU reform treaty. | The role - dubbed "president of Europe" - will be created under the terms of the new EU reform treaty. |
| But Europe Minister Jim Murphy said Mr Blair was "already busy as an envoy in the Middle East and he has a fantastically important job to do". | But Europe Minister Jim Murphy said Mr Blair was "already busy as an envoy in the Middle East and he has a fantastically important job to do". |
| He was speaking after French President Nicolas Sarkozy said Mr Blair would be a "good choice" for the new job. | |
| 'No discussion' | 'No discussion' |
| Speaking at the conclusion of the EU summit in Lisbon, Mr Sarkozy told reporters: "I saw Tony Blair two nights ago. He is a very remarkable man. | Speaking at the conclusion of the EU summit in Lisbon, Mr Sarkozy told reporters: "I saw Tony Blair two nights ago. He is a very remarkable man. |
| The creation of a permanent European president of the European Council and the creation of a European foreign minister is designed to accrue more power to the centre in the EU William Hague, shadow foreign secretary | The creation of a permanent European president of the European Council and the creation of a European foreign minister is designed to accrue more power to the centre in the EU William Hague, shadow foreign secretary |
| "He is the most European of Britons ... it would be intelligent to think of him." | "He is the most European of Britons ... it would be intelligent to think of him." |
| Mr Sarkozy also praised Luxembourg's prime minister Jean-Claude Juncker, who supports a more federal Europe in contrast to Mr Blair's support for the primacy of nation states, as a possible candidate. | Mr Sarkozy also praised Luxembourg's prime minister Jean-Claude Juncker, who supports a more federal Europe in contrast to Mr Blair's support for the primacy of nation states, as a possible candidate. |
| But he said it would be "premature" for France to take an official position at this stage. | But he said it would be "premature" for France to take an official position at this stage. |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown also sought to play down speculation about who might be given the new role. | Prime Minister Gordon Brown also sought to play down speculation about who might be given the new role. |
| "Tony Blair would be a great candidate for any significant international job," he told reporters. | "Tony Blair would be a great candidate for any significant international job," he told reporters. |
| "But there has been no discussion on this, and it is premature to have any discussion because this treaty has still got to be ratified. | "But there has been no discussion on this, and it is premature to have any discussion because this treaty has still got to be ratified. |
| "There will be no discussion on names until after ratification." | "There will be no discussion on names until after ratification." |
| A spokesman for the former prime minister and Labour leader told The Independent newspaper Mr Blair was "focusing on his current role in the Middle East." | A spokesman for the former prime minister and Labour leader told The Independent newspaper Mr Blair was "focusing on his current role in the Middle East." |
| 'Best of luck' | 'Best of luck' |
| The post of President of the European Council would replace the current system of six month rotating EU presidencies. | The post of President of the European Council would replace the current system of six month rotating EU presidencies. |
| The job, with a reported salary of £200,000, would be on a two and a half year fixed term and would involve chairing EU meetings with the aim of creating a more efficient decision making process. | The job, with a reported salary of £200,000, would be on a two and a half year fixed term and would involve chairing EU meetings with the aim of creating a more efficient decision making process. |
| It would also give the EU a new figurehead on the world stage, although national leaders insist the key decisions will continue to be made by them. | It would also give the EU a new figurehead on the world stage, although national leaders insist the key decisions will continue to be made by them. |
| The job will not be on offer unless, and until, the new treaty is ratified by all 27 EU nations. | The job will not be on offer unless, and until, the new treaty is ratified by all 27 EU nations. |
| Europe Minister Jim Murphy was asked on BBC One's Andrew Marr Show whether the government would welcome Mr Blair's appointment to the post or regard it as an embarrassment. | Europe Minister Jim Murphy was asked on BBC One's Andrew Marr Show whether the government would welcome Mr Blair's appointment to the post or regard it as an embarrassment. |
| He replied: "Neither - on the basis that Tony is already busy as an envoy in the Middle East and he has a fantastically important job to do and we all wish him - across all the parties across Britain - the best of luck in doing that job." | He replied: "Neither - on the basis that Tony is already busy as an envoy in the Middle East and he has a fantastically important job to do and we all wish him - across all the parties across Britain - the best of luck in doing that job." |
| Mr Murphy dismissed the suggestion that the creation of the new post would amount to a significant constitutional change. "Currently we have a rotating president every six months. | Mr Murphy dismissed the suggestion that the creation of the new post would amount to a significant constitutional change. "Currently we have a rotating president every six months. |
| "In future that person will serve for two and a half years," he said. | "In future that person will serve for two and a half years," he said. |
| "That's not the radical constitutional change that the Conservatives allege. Instead of someone chairing the committee for six months, it will be two and a half years." | "That's not the radical constitutional change that the Conservatives allege. Instead of someone chairing the committee for six months, it will be two and a half years." |
| Shadow Foreign Secretary William Hague said: "The creation of a permanent European president of the European Council and the creation of a European foreign minister is designed to accrue more power to the centre in the EU, so it is very much part of a process, and they have signed us up to that." | Shadow Foreign Secretary William Hague said: "The creation of a permanent European president of the European Council and the creation of a European foreign minister is designed to accrue more power to the centre in the EU, so it is very much part of a process, and they have signed us up to that." |