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“Eu Negotiates Names for Top Jobs”
by BBC News   
November 10th, 2009

Sweden's prime minister, the current chair of EU summits, says he is half-way through consultations to determine a shortlist for the new EU top jobs.

Fredrik Reinfeldt said he expected to be ready soon to call a special EU summit to appoint the permanent EU president and foreign policy chief.

The Belgian Prime Minister, Herman van Rompuy, has emerged as a frontrunner for the post of EU president.

UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband is not seeking the foreign affairs job.

The Belgian Prime Minister, Herman van Rompuy, has emerged as a frontrunner for the post of EU president.

UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband is not seeking the foreign affairs job.

He had been seen as a frontrunner for the job - among the institutional changes created by the Lisbon Treaty - even though he had said he was not "available".

But, amid continuing speculation, the BBC understands Mr Miliband told the head of the European socialists' group he was not interested in the job.

Friends have indicated Mr Miliband "sees his future in British politics".

Campaign for Blair

Candidates must be nominated by the government of one of the EU's 27 member states.

Mr Miliband and Prime Minister Gordon Brown have been campaigning for former PM Tony Blair to get the job of president of the European Council.

But other European leaders have avoided expressing support openly for Mr Blair. There is speculation that the EU may opt for a leader from a small country who has a lower international profile, and who would act more as an enabling chairperson in Brussels.

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