Gonzi non-committal on Blair nomination for EU president
Matthew Vella The Maltese government will be taking a decision on its preference for the new President of the European Council only once the Lisbon Treaty comes into force.
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi told Labour MP Owen Bonnici in parliament that it will only be then that there will be a clearer idea over the prospective candidates for the post.
Bonnici asked Gonzi what the government’s position was on the possiblity of Tony Blair taking the post of president of the European Union’s highest decision-making body.
The Lisbon Treaty, expected to enter into legal force on 1 January, 2010, will change the workings of the EU and will create a president of the European Council, which gathers all member states’ prime ministers, and also a high representative for foreign affairs.
Apart from the former British prime minister Tony Blair being touted for the job, Jean-Claude Juncker, the Luxembourg prime minister is also being floated as a possible contender. Apart from enjoying a friendly rapport with Gonzi, Juncker is considered to be experienced in EU negotiations and a friend of small member states.
The Swedish prime minister, who currently holds the Council presidency, has earmarked the 29, 30 October for the discussion of institutional affairs amongst the EU leaders.
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