Tony Blair - Europe's First President?

Former British prime minister Tony Blair could be installed as the first president of the European Union (EU) following a campaign launched by French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

"He is a remarkable man, the most European of all the British," Sarkozy said on Friday, adding that he and Blair, who quit as prime minister earlier this year, had discussed the proposal over a meal in Paris this week.

European leaders signed a landmark EU Reform Treaty in Lisbon on Thursday, which establishes the post of the EU president from Jan 2009. Blair is currently the Middle East envoy for the US, Russia, United Nations and EU.

Sarkozy first proposed the idea in June this year just before an EU summit that was to be Blair's last as British prime minister. The French leader is said to have discussed the proposal with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and other key European leaders. However, Blair's unpopularity in Italy and Spain, on account of his strong backing for the invasion of Iraq, was said to have been an inhibiting factor at the time.

But crucially, Blair is said to have the support of his successor at 10 Downing Street, Gordon Brown.

The job itself is important and would draw upon all of Blair's diplomatic and negotiating skills in a group composed of 27 disparate and often-squabbling nations that have been grappling with the difficult task of legislating uniformity and harmony into their domestic policies on a range of sensitive issues from health and human rights to immigration, foreign policy and defence.

At the same time, the EU has to put up a united front on the world stage -- a balancing act that is not always easy to pull off, as has been clear in individual national responses to the Iraq war.

The new job, which could be done part-time, would involve Blair coordinating EU policy and brokering agreements between leaders of the member-states. It is expected to carry a salary and perks package of at least £200,000 a year.

The job would have few formal powers, but would give the EU strategic leadership and represent the bloc on the world stage on issues such as climate change, bilateral relations and development in conjunction with a new EU foreign minister.

Under the just-signed Reform Treaty, which is yet to be ratified, the EU will also have its own diplomatic service.

The idea is build a politically strong Europe on the world stage, with an element of continuity, predictability and stability -- as the EU president would replace the current system of rotating presidency, which is held by a different member-country every six months. Under the current system, the head of government of the country holding the rotating presidency chairs the EU summit.

The job will run for two-and-a-half years. (DNA)
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