At the Brussels summit last night, there were growing signs of opposition to a "President Blair", as a group of smaller EU member states launched a co-ordinated "attack of the dwarves" in a bid to block him. The group of countries, which includes Ireland, Finland, Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and Sweden, used a dinner discussion over "rules of procedure" last night to try to define the presidency as a low-key chairmanship instead of the high-profile figurehead post Mr Blair covets. Ireland abandoned its previous support for Mr Blair after John Bruton, a former Irish prime minister, put himself forward for the job. A senior Irish minister told The Daily Telegraph: "We will not be supporting the idea of a Blair-type president of Europe." Rejecting personal lobbying from Mr Brown, European Socialist leaders also signalled opposition by announcing that they want a centre-right candidate to take the presidency while a left-winger gets the new job of EU high representative for foreign affairs.
At the Brussels summit last night, there were growing signs of opposition to a "President Blair", as a group of smaller EU member
states launched a co-ordinated "attack of the dwarves" in a bid to block him.
The group of countries, which includes Ireland, Finland, Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and Sweden, used a dinner discussion over "rules of procedure" last night to try to define the presidency as a low-key chairmanship instead of the high-profile figurehead post Mr Blair covets.
Ireland abandoned its previous support for Mr Blair after John Bruton, a former Irish prime minister, put himself forward for the job.
A senior Irish minister told The Daily Telegraph: "We will not be supporting the idea of a Blair-type president of Europe."
Rejecting personal lobbying from Mr Brown, European Socialist leaders also signalled opposition by announcing that they want a centre-right candidate to take the presidency while a left-winger gets the new job of EU high representative for foreign affairs.
Not just Ireland pulling out, but note Denmark in with the dwarfs.
Significantly however, senior EU sources said that both Mr Sarkozy and Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, have now cooled on Mr Blair's candidacy. "The mood music from France and Germany has not been positive," said one source. "It's not looking good for Blair." Mrs Merkel, who has never made her position clear, was last night said to be supporting a low-profile "chairman" candidate such as Herman Van Rompuy of Belgium or Jan Peter Balkenende of the Netherlands.
Significantly however, senior EU sources said that both Mr Sarkozy and Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, have now cooled on Mr Blair's candidacy.
"The mood music from France and Germany has not been positive," said one source. "It's not looking good for Blair."
Mrs Merkel, who has never made her position clear, was last night said to be supporting a low-profile "chairman" candidate such as Herman Van Rompuy of Belgium or Jan Peter Balkenende of the Netherlands.
THE GOVERNMENT last night strengthened its support for John Bruton's campaign for the presidency of the European Council, but strongly criticised an attack on its stance by Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny. The battle for the position intensified at the opening of a two-day summit at which EU leaders struck a deal last night to ensure Czech ratification for the Lisbon Treaty.
The battle for the position intensified at the opening of a two-day summit at which EU leaders struck a deal last night to ensure Czech ratification for the Lisbon Treaty.
