Debate on EU president, duties pushed back

BRUSSELS, Oct. 23 (UPI) -- Ministers will consider who should be the first European Union president as well as debate the breadth of that person's authority in November, officials said.

Formal negotiations about the top spot were delayed because the Lisbon Treaty -- which redefines how the European Union operates -- is awaiting ratification by the Czech Republic, The Wall Street Journal reported Friday. The treaty must be ratified by all EU members before it takes effect.

The European Parliament decided Thursday to hold a debate Nov. 11 about whether the president should be a bureaucrat or a figurehead. The European Union, based in Brussels, chooses a candidate, who must be confirmed by the parliament.

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, once considered a favorite for the EU presidency, has denied he is actively campaigning for the post.

"As we have said time and again on this, there is nothing to be a candidate for, since the job doesn't actually exist," a Blair spokesman said.

Other EU leaders indicated Blair may not be an ideal candidate, the Journal said. When asked recently about whether Blair would be a good candidate, one-time supporter French President Nicolas Sarkozy said it was too soon to tell.

"The fact that Great Britain is not in the euro remains a problem," Sarkozy said, adding that the role demands either a "strong and charismatic president" -- as Blair is seen -- or a consensus-seeking organizer.