THE ‘MOST CITED’

Tony Blair (PES), who represents the Quartet on the Middle East (EU, UN, United States and Russia), is regularly cited by heads of government as the right man to serve as the first president of the European Council (if the Lisbon Treaty is ratified). The assignment could be more of a curse than a blessing for the future presidencies, though, because Blair is not likely to be content with playing second fiddle.

Born in 1953 in Edinburg (Scotland), Blair studied law at Oxford and then went into legal practice. He joined the Labour Party fairly late, at age 35, and helped push through New Labour, which shed typically Socialist clauses and was given a more centrist connotation. In 1997, at age 44, he became the United Kingdom’s youngest prime minister, an office he held for ten years. His record includes the Belfast agreement, which restored peace in Northern Ireland, a firm commitment to Kosovo and support for the Americans in Afghanistan and Iraq in the fight against terrorism. During the EU Council Presidency, from July to December 2005, he recommended setting limits and new ground rules for the Community budget, including a complete overhaul of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and development of the single market and EU foreign policy.

THE ALTERNATIVE

If there is an explanation behind the against-the-stream support given by Zapatero, a Socialist, to José Manuel Barroso, other than inter-Iberian solidarity and the portfolio of Spain’s future commissioner, it could well be Felipe Gonzalez (PES). Spain would be happy to hold this key position, which would materialise just as the country takes up the EU Presidency.

Born in 1942, Felipe Gonzalez secretly joined the Socialist Party and worked in Switzerland and elsewhere as trade union representative for the Federation of Woodworking and Construction Trades. In 1974, he was elected to head the party at its congress in exile, held in Suresnes. Gonzalez then became prime minister, holding the seat for 14 years, from 1982 to 1996. He took his country in a new direction, economically, socially and in external affairs, leading it to membership of the EEC and NATO. Today he chairs the task force on the future of Europe. At the beginning of June 2009, Gonzalez and seven other Socialist former prime ministers signed a call for rejection of Barroso’s reappointment as Commission president.

THE EXPERT

The candidate from Luxembourg, mentioned repeatedly as one of Europe’s most experienced leaders just months ago, is no longer being seen in recent ‘hit parades’. Jean-Claude Juncker (EPP)is nevertheless a key figure in European diplomacy and one of the few Maastricht Treaty ‘survivors’ still in office.

Born in 1954 in Redange-sur-Attert, Juncker was introduced to politics at an early age by his father, who was active in the Luxembourg Christian Trade Union Confederation. After studying law in Strasbourg, he was appointed, in 1982, at age 28, as state secretary for labour and two years later was elected to the lower house of parliament. In 1989, a serious accident left him in a coma for more than two weeks, but Juncker worked his way back to ministerial responsibilities. From 1990 to 1995, he was minister for finance, labour, employment and the treasury, and in this capacity was one of the architects of Economic and Monetary Union. He became prime minister in 1995 but kept the finance portfolio, which he still holds. Juncker held the EU Presidency twice and since 2005 has chaired the Eurogroup, the informal meeting of eurozone finance ministers. In 2004, he turned down the European Commission presidency, officially because he wanted to keep the top job in Luxembourg, but unofficially because of British opposition to his appointment.

A LEVEL-HEADED WOMAN

Mentioned by several European top figures, including Swedish Commissioner Margot Wallström, the former President of Ireland,  Mary Robinson (PES), has a number of strengths. To start, her popularity goes well beyond Ireland’s borders. Giving the job to a citizen of Samuel Beckett’s homeland would also be a serious push to Ireland for ratification of the Lisbon Treaty.

Born in 1944 in Ballina (Mayo County), Robinson attended Trinity College in Dublin after obtaining a special derogation from the archbishop (women were not usually admitted), and then went on to attend Harvard. She returned to Dublin to teach law, particularly European law. Elected as an independent candidate in 1969 to the Dáil Éireann, the lower chamber of Ireland’s parliament, she held the seat until 1989 in the ranks of Labour, fighting for women’s rights and the legalisation of contraception, difficult subjects in Ireland at the time. She became Ireland’s first woman president, in 1990, staying in office until 1997 and becoming immensely popular. In keeping with a solid Irish tradition, she continued a career in the United Nations, as high commissioner for human rights (1997-2002), where she made a name for herself with her visit to Tibet and her criticism of capital punishment in the United States.