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Sarkozy touts Blair as EU chief
16/06/2007 08:56 - (SA)
London - French President Nicolas Sarkozy is touting British Prime Minister Tony Blair for a job as the first full-time European Union president, the Financial Times newspaper said on Saturday.
But Downing Street played down the report, saying Blair had no plans to rejoin front-line politics after stepping down later this month.
The FT said the new French leader was understood to have discussed the plan with his European counterparts ahead of next week's EU summit, at which the German presidency hopes to strike a deal on a new treaty streamlining the 27-member bloc.
The FT cited German diplomats as saying Sarkozy had put his idea to German Chancellor Angel Merkel and EU officials as saying the French president had also touted the proposal around other EU capitals.
Blair's aides admit that Sarkozy and other EU leaders have suggested the idea, the business daily said.
But Blair's Downing Street office insisted that he had no interest in taking on a high-profile political role after he steps down from power on June 27.
"In the past the prime minister has made it very clear that he does not want to return to front-line politics," a spokesperson said.
At next week's summit, Merkel wants to reach agreement on a new treaty that would come into force by 2009 at the latest.
Proposals being considered by the EU include having a permanent person as president of the European Council rather than the current set-up whereby the presidency rotates between the 27 member states.
There are few clues as to what the 54-year-old Blair intends to do long-term once he steps down on June 27 after a decade as Britain's prime minister.
The summit is set to be Blair's last major event on the world stage before he leaves office. His finance minister Gordon Brown is set to replace him as prime minister and governing Labour Party leader.
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