By Martin Banks - 19th October 2009
I hope they work out but it remains to be seen
Franz Fischler
Former commissioner Franz Fischler has said that "conflict is inevitable" between the EU's top jobs, the presidencies of the council and commission.
He told TheParliament.com this was partly because of the currently "vague" job description of the council presidency post, which will come into force once the Lisbon treaty is ratified.
"No matter how well intentioned everyone will be, there is a certain inevitability that conflict will arise between the two posts," he said.
"That is why the character and personality of whoever is chosen for the council presidency post is so important."
Fischler, commissioner for agriculture and fisheries from 1995-2004, was in Brussels to take part in a debate on the future of Europe organised by the Friends of Europe think-tank, of which he is a trustee.
The council post will be one of three EU presidencies, together with the commission, led by José Manuel Barroso, and the rotating six-month presidency.
This has led some, including Fischler, to question whether the three presidencies will be able to work effectively together.
Current confusion over the powers of the council presidency are said to be one of the reasons why former UK premier Tony Blair is yet to formally declare his candidacy for the job.
Fischler, a former agriculture minister in Austria, said, "I hope they work out but it remains to be seen. What is needed as soon as possible is for us to discover what exactly the job will entail."
Meanwhile, Belgian political grandee Etienne Davignon is the latest to come out against a possible Blair presidency.
Attending the same event, he told this website he thought Blair was "unsuitable", not least because Britain remains outside the "EU architecture", such as the single currency.
Davignon, a former commission vice-president, said the former UK prime minister had also "failed to show sufficient" support for the EU during his 10-year term in office.
His comments were endorsed by Irish Socialist MEP Proinsias De Rossa, who said there had been a "naturally strong reaction" against Blair becoming EU president.
"There is no way it should go to Blair," he said. "What Europe needs now is a credible leader and that is not Blair."
Blair, however, can count on the support of at least one old ally as he manoeuvres himself to become the first president of Europe.
Silvio Berlusconi, the Italian prime minister has written a front-page letter in a right-wing newspaper, declaring Blair to be the best man for the job.
"Tony Blair has got everything it needs to become the first president of the European council," he wrote in Il Foglio. "He has everything it needs to be designated to that role, as soon as it will be judicially and politically possible.
"In agreement with many other heads of government, and heads of state, and in coordination with the powers of the European parliament, my government and I will work to ensure we do not lose a great political legacy, made with courage, equilibrium and prudence without uncertainty."
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