Blair tipped for EU presidency

Outgoing prime minister Tony Blair would make an ideal candidate to become the European Union's (EU) first full-time president, according to the reported view of new French leader Nicolas Sarkozy.

An article in the Financial Times, citing German diplomats, claims that France's president has already touted Mr Blair for the job during discussions with Germany's chancellor Angela Merkel.

The paper claims EU officials have also revealed that Mr Sarkozy has broached the matter elsewhere within Europe.

EU leaders, who are due to meet in the German capital Berlin for a summit next week, are currently considering plans to create a new president of the European Council.

If endorsed, the role would provide a permanent replacement for the EU's rotating presidency, which currently changes every six months.

Although the proposed EU president would have few formal powers, it is envisaged that such an individual would provide strategic leadership to the bloc's 27-member states and represent them internationally on key issues such as global warming.

But as EU leaders prepare to negotiate a new European treaty, Downing Street has insisted that Mr Blair has no interest in assuming such a high-profile role once he leaves office on June 27th.

"The prime minister has made it clear that he is not going to return to frontline politics," a No 10 spokeswoman said.

Mr Blair's decision to take Britain to war in Iraq, his close relationship with US president George Bush and his failure to sign the UK up to the single currency could make him a potentially divisive figure for the job in any event.