![]() |
|
|
Blair emerges as candidate for ‘President of Europe’
Wednesday, October 24th, 2007
By Andrew Grice Tony Blair has emerged as a possible candidate for “President of Europe”, a new post created by the treaty approved by EU leaders at their Lisbon summit. The former prime minister’s name was put in the frame yesterday by Nicolas Sarkozy, the French President, who described Mr Blair as “a very remarkable man – the most European of all Britons.” He added: “To think of him would be a good idea.” The treaty scraps the current system under which one country holds the EU’s rotating presidency for six months. It will be replaced by the appointment of a President, who will chair EU meetings, drive through its agenda and serve for two-and-a-half years. Gordon Brown said: “Tony Blair would be a great candidate for any significant international job.” He added: “As you know the work that he is doing in the Middle East is something that is of huge international importance.” But he said it was premature to speculate on who might fill the post because the appointment would not be made until the treaty had been ratified by member states next year. There remain considerable obstacles to Mr Blair securing the post. Although he is regarded as a heavyweight in EU capitals, he is also remembered as the man who divided Europe by giving George Bush such strong backing for the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Some EU diplomats predicted that he would not secure enough support from member states. Friends doubt that Mr Blair would want the job. The new President would not be as powerful as the title or £200,000-a-year package suggests. He or she would help to shape the EU’s agenda and be seen as the EU’s representative on the world stage. But the key decisions would still be taken by national leaders from member states. After standing down as Prime Minister in June, Mr Blair became the Middle East peace envoy for the Quartet – the United States, Russia, the United Nations and the EU. Yesterday his spokesman did not rule out him taking up the new EU post but said: “He is focusing on his current role in the Middle East.” Other potential candidates for the post include Aleksander Kwasniewski, the former Polish president, and Bertie Ahern, the Irish Prime Minister. Have Your Say: Blair emerges as candidate for ‘President of Europe’ Please read our posting guidelines before posting. Alternatively you can discuss this report here. Related News
|
Western, Arab ministers agree UN draft on Gaza truce Last post by loki @ 08:34 AM Go to Forum
| Latest Topics
OK, truthers.... Last post by Unregistered @ 06:53 AM Lancaster University : Unlimited Cheap Energy 5 years ahead of MIT Last post by Unregistered @ 03:51 AM Bush rewards his hired guns Last post by Unregistered @ 02:18 AM Just another Stupid Conspiricy theory. Last post by Unregistered @ 01:54 AM 1957-1975: The Vietnam War Last post by Unregistered @ 01:46 AM The axis of Pure EVIL: Britain, Israel & United States Last post by Unregistered @ 01:45 AM Jonathan Kay on the bigtory of Richard Falk, the UN's new anti-Israel hit man Last post by Unregistered @ 01:14 AM Mafia Forever Last post by Thinking Man's Idiot @ 12:54 AM Surviving the US blockade Last post by Thinking Man's Idiot @ 12:44 AM Email This Page To A Friend Latest Headlines
More World News Archive
|
TOP NEWS DISCUSSIONS |
LATEST NEWS DISCUSSIONS |
|
|
Rallies to protest Gaza bombing Private firm may track all email and calls An Israeli War Crimes Tribunal Bush rewards his hired guns |
Coz commented on: Bush rewards his hired guns All that is needed for evil to succeed, is for good men and women to sit on their ass, and live in denial, or go... Continue Reading & Reply commendatori commented on: Rallies to protest Gaza bombing Hello You guys are a bunch of Hypocrites, since when a nation doenst have the right to defend... Continue Reading & Reply Dan Dare commented on: The Qassam rockets myths Phil (Jan 5th, 2009 at 12:08 am) wrote: “in the military here in the United States we are taught be sure of... Continue Reading & Reply Dan Dare commented on: Private firm may track all email and calls JacquiBoot Smith is a Nazi Bitch who wants to lock everything down under a risk aversive,... Continue Reading & Reply |
|
The views expressed in the RINF news wire and newsletter are the sole responsibility of the author (s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the webmaster. RINF.COM: Breaking News & Alternative Media is Copyleft - Copy & Distribute Freely. News Forum |