BRUSSELS (The Independent) - David Miliband's chances of becoming foreign minister of Europe increased dramatically after it emerged that the most senior figure in the EU is privately leading a campaign on behalf of the Foreign Secretary.

Mr Barroso's role in the appointment of the high representative for foreign policy is crucial because the holder would also be vice-president of the commission - and his deputy. He therefore has a veto over who would get the post. Mr Barroso does not have a direct say over the president of the council role that Mr Blair was hoping for.

While the presidency is more of a figurehead position, the foreign affairs job holds real power in the new-look executive created by the Lisbon Treaty, with the office-holder having more resources and influence over shaping the future of Europe.

Mr Miliband emerged as the real winner in Brussels. His former boss, Mr Blair - who did not attend the summit - was being written off.

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BERLIN (DeutscheWelle) - Tony Blair will probably not become 'Europe's George Washington' after German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy failed to back the former British prime minister at a summit in Brussels.

"With Angela Merkel, we have agreed that France and Germany will have a common vision and support the same candidate when the time comes," Sarkozy said.

Blair's demise is Miliband's gain.

Sarkozy turns against his old ally

Sarkozy once declared his support for Blair's candidacy, but the British campaign to push Blair stumbled when Brown failed to win the blessing of European socialists before the summit began.

"If he cannot get the backing of the socialist group, being a Labour man himself, it's a very difficult situation," Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said.

A cross-party group of MEPs have called for former Irish president Mary Robinson for the role of EU president. The deputies, from four political groups, make their demands in signed a declaration which will be delivered to the summit.

The declaration also condemns the "convulted and obscure" way in which the EU presidency post and that of high representative have been discussed in recent weeks.

Robinson has already ruled herself out of the running but the 30-strong group say EU leaders meeting in Brussels on Thursday to discuss the post should urge her to "reconsider" her decision.

Stockholm speech 10-11 Nov. :: Protect, Respect, Remedy: Swedish EU Presidency Conference on Corporate Social Responsibility (pdf)