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Paris is no longer supporting the idea of Tony Blair becoming the first president of the European Council, according to French and British media reports.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Tuesday (6 May) let it be known that instead of the UK former prime minister taking the post, he would prefer the job go to Luxembourg prime minister Jean-Claude Juncker.
While Mr Juncker - a veteran of the EU stage - is favourite to take the president job, Jose Manuel Barroso is set to win a second term as head of the European Commission, according to Elysee sources quoted by French daily Le Figaro.
The two politicians are "largely favoured" said the sources. The UK Independent suggested that another variation could see Mr Barroso become EU president while Mr Juncker takes on the commission post.
Both Mr Juncker and Mr Barroso are from the same centre-right political family, meaning the third big post up for grabs - that of EU foreign minister - should go to a person from the socialists or the liberals.
But according to Le Figaro, Javier Solana, a Spanish socialist, and current EU foreign policy chief, is not favoured by Paris.
Paris is no longer supporting the idea of Tony Blair becoming the first president of the European Council, according to French and British media reports.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Tuesday (6 May) let it be known that instead of the UK former prime minister taking the post, he would prefer the job go to Luxembourg prime minister Jean-Claude Juncker.
While Mr Juncker - a veteran of the EU stage - is favourite to take the president job, Jose Manuel Barroso is set to win a second term as head of the European Commission, according to Elysee sources quoted by French daily Le Figaro.
The two politicians are "largely favoured" said the sources. The UK Independent suggested that another variation could see Mr Barroso become EU president while Mr Juncker takes on the commission post.
Both Mr Juncker and Mr Barroso are from the same centre-right political family, meaning the third big post up for grabs - that of EU foreign minister - should go to a person from the socialists or the liberals.
But according to Le Figaro, Javier Solana, a Spanish socialist, and current EU foreign policy chief, is not favoured by Paris.