Sarkozy: Blair may not be best for EU post

PARIS, Oct. 16 (UPI) -- French President Nicolas Sarkozy may be backing away from his support of Tony Blair to be the first president of the European Council, observers say.

Sarkozy told a French newspaper that selection of the former British prime minister could be problematic, the EU Observer reported Friday.

"Personally I believe in a Europe that is politically strong and embodied by a person," Sarkozy said. "But the fact that Great Britain is not in the euro remains a problem."

Sixteen of the 27 member states are members of the eurozone.

Of the 11 countries not sharing the common currency, most are central and eastern European states, including Poland, Denmark and Sweden.

The new post of president of the European Council is part of the Lisbon Treaty that awaits final ratification in the Czech Republic.