Blair's EU Presidency Hopes 'Fading'

Tony Blair's prospects of becoming President of the European Council would seem to be faltering, following reports that he has failed to secure the backing of European leaders.

Although Mr Blair has been endorsed by Prime Minister Gordon Brown, he has reportedly had a lack of support from other European leaders, with some of the reasons believed to include concerns over Britain's alleged lack of commitment to the EU and the fact that Britain remains outside the Eurozone.

Meanwhile, in Britain, both the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats remain opposed to the prospect of a Blair presidency.

However, Mr Blair's spokesperson stressed that there was no campaign as the job did not yet exist and said that the former Prime Minister remained "fully focused on his existing projects".

Meanwhile, ratification of the Lisbon Treaty has moved closer after it was reported that delegates at the European leaders' summit in Brussels have approved a deal with Czech President Vaclav Klaus, leaving the path clear for the country - the only EU member state which has not yet ratified the Treaty - to approve it.

President Klaus had wanted an opt-out from the Treaty's Charter of Fundamental Rights over fears that descendants from ethnic Germans expelled from Czechoslovakia after World War II would attempt to reclaim properties. However, EU officials have played down this prospect.

(KMcA/BMcc)