EU parliament set to debate council presidency issue

The race to become the EU's first permanent president is set to be debated by MEPs, despite the European parliament having no formal say in the matter.

The parliament's conference of presidents, or group leaders, have agreed to include the issue on the agenda of parliament's mini plenary in Brussels next week

MEPs may also table a formal resolution which would state the "type" of president they prefer.

UK Liberal MEP Andrew Duff says that while parliament will not have formal say on who is chosen for the prestige post MEPs are still keen to have some influence on the matter.

"I would hope that in addition to a debate we can put forward a resolution expressing the type of president parliament would wish to see," said Duff.

He said his preference is for a "chairman-style" role for the presidency.

He refused to be drawn on who his personal favourite but said such a job description would suit someone like Luxembourg premier Jean-Claude Juncker rather than former UK PM Tony Blair.

"Someone like Juncker would have the necessary political integrity and skills," he said.

Blair had been seen as the frontrunner for the post but his chances appear to have diminished somewhat after last week's EU summit in Brussels where UK premier Gordon Brown failed to get widespread support for a Blair presidency.

So far, some of the fiercest criticism of Blair has come from MEPs themselves, including Socialist group leader Martin Schulz who last week said Blair had been a grave disappointment as prime minister because he had failed to take the UK into the euro.

The issue of who will become the bloc's first president is expected to be resolved at a special summit of EU leaders, probably on 12 November.

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