By Francesca Ross - 29th October 2009
A final agreement on the Lisbon treaty, discussing who gets which post under its new provisions and financing climate change mitigation all look likely to be the big issues at the ongoing European council summit.
The meeting of EU heads of state and government in Brussels first and foremost hopes to agree conditions for the straggling Czech Republic to sign the new treaty text, allowing it to come into effect and the process of institutional reform to begin.
Czech president Václav Klaus, who will not be attending the summit, has said the treaty is "unstoppable" but his representatives will be negotiating for an opt-out from the charter of fundamental rights before he puts pen to paper.
However, the talks already look likely to be heated as it emerged Thursday that Hungary would try to block such a move, with the country's prime minister Gordon Bajnai saying it would be "very dangerous".
Assuming some compromise can be reached on ratifying the treaty, leaders will also informally discuss the allocation of the president and high representative roles it creates.
Angela Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy are said to have met to discuss potential candidates and other matters on Wednesday, and had agreed on "almost everything".
Other meetings of leaders from across Europe's political families are also expected to take place.
Reports in the press suggest Tony Blair is still the name on everybody's lips ahead of the summit, though Benelux countries remain strongly opposed and are gathering instead behind the head of the Eurogroup, Jean Claude Juncker.
Insiders say another suggestion on the table for filling the top job is Dutch centre-right prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende, though his acceptance of the role would trigger a difficult general election in the Netherlands.
However, although Blair is widely touted for the top job, Europe's socialist group is instead openly pushing to fill the high representative position.
Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, president of the Party of European Socialists, told this website "we will be pressing for a Socialist to be chosen for this post" rather than that of president of the council, as they have "a natural claim" to the position..
Policymakers will also be under pressure to agree a common EU position ahead of the Copenhagen climate talks. However, some member states, led by Germany are insisting there is no need to agree figures ahead of a global deal.
In a letter sent Wednesday Swedish president Fredrik Reindfelt revealed he believes it is vital that the EU had a strong negotiating position prepared for the December talks, saying "it is clear that a deal on financing will be central to reaching agreement in Copenhagen.''
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