... Under the Lisbon Treaty, which was completely ratified Nov. 3, each of the member states will continue to have a seat at the European Commission. But because the new foreign policy chief will also be a vice president of the European Commission, he will also be his nation's sole appointee there. France has so far not put forward potential contenders from the center-left for the foreign policy job. Germany has already nominated as its European commissioner Günther Oettinger, who is from the center-right and has no substantial foreign policy experience.

One possible compromise would have involved the British foreign secretary, David Miliband, being selected as the foreign policy chief, complementing the choice of Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy of Belgium, a member of a center-right party, as president. But Mr. Miliband appeared to rule himself out and, according to diplomats, one reason that Britain was reluctant to propose him for the post was a concern that his selection would then clear the way for France and Germany to get key economic positions in the European Commission.

Of particular concern to the British is the prospect of France winning the internal market portfolio, according to a European Union diplomat.

This is viewed as a vital job, because it oversees efforts to maintain a level playing field in the bloc's internal market and because it also includes financial regulation, an area certain to be more important in the aftermath of the financial crisis. However, some diplomats believe that, if Britain wins some safeguards on economic policy, it might be prepared to put forward as foreign policy chief its former European commissioner, Peter Mandelson, or even prevail on Mr. Miliband to change his mind.