COUNCIL PRESIDENCY:TAOISEACH BRIAN Cowen insisted he will support John Bruton's nascent campaign for the presidency of the European Council after Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny accused him of moving too soon to endorse former British prime minister Tony Blair.
In his first comments on Mr Bruton’s candidacy, on the fringes of the summit, Mr Cowen signalled only tepid support, saying the Government would promote him for the post if he received enough backing elsewhere in the EU.
His remarks led Mr Kenny to say it was time for the Taoiseach “to get off the British horse and back an Irish candidate”.
Mr Cowen made himself available to reporters for a second time to respond to Mr Kenny, saying it was important not to take a partisan view on the matter.
He also reiterated his welcome for Mr Bruton’s decision to canvass support from EU leaders. “Certainly if he’s there with a great chance, he won’t be found wanting with support from us.”
It is understood that the Government was surprised when Mr Bruton wrote last Friday to 27 EU ambassadors to the US, putting his name forward for the post, one of two powerful positions created under the Lisbon Treaty.
Mr Bruton, who is finishing a five-year term as EU ambassador to the US, served as Taoiseach in the rainbow coalition between 1994 and 1997 and was Fine Gael leader between 1990 and 2001.
While repeatedly welcoming his entry into the race, Mr Cowen went only so far as to say that the Government would like to see him secure the post if that was possible. In addition to Mr Blair, rival contenders include Luxembourg’s prime minister Jean-Claude Juncker.
Asked if the Government would back away from Mr Blair if Mr Bruton was also a contender, Mr Cowen said the names of potential candidates were not being discussed at the summit and that the debate currently centres on the nature of the job itself. “The Swedish presidency has the job to talk to all member states after the Lisbon Treaty has been formally ratified by everybody. That’s where that job will start,” he said.
“Obviously I’m making the case as an Irishman. I welcome the fact that an Irishman has put their name forward, a former taoiseach, who has put forward his merits and credentials. And we have to see now if there’s sufficient support for his candidacy.
“That is I think as far as we can go this week on it. But in relation to what our overall position would be, of course, if there was support for John Bruton’s candidacy, we would support him.” Mr Cowen was speaking after a meeting of the European Liberal Democrats (ELDR), Fianna Fail’s grouping in the European Parliament.
The ELDR wants the council president to work as chairman of EU government meetings with a mandate to call emergency meeting at times of crisis. It wants that person or the new EU High Representative for foreign affairs, the second post created by Lisbon, to come from the ranks of the ELDR. However, Mr Cowen left open the possibility that Mr Bruton’s membership of the European People’s Party group would not preclude the Government endorsing his candidacy.