Brussels:The Government is backing former Munster MEP and president of the European Parliament Pat Cox to chair an influential new reflection group on the future of the EU.
Mr Cox, who is currently president of the European Movement, is one of several people tipped as possible candidates to chair the so-called "committee of wise men". In an interview with The Irish Timesyesterday Mr Cox said he would be interested in joining the group and welcomed the political support provided by the Government.
"The goodwill of one's Government is welcome, although as I understand it there won't be one representative from each state," said Mr Cox, who was the first Irishman to receive the Charlemagne Prize, a prestigious award for services to EU integration.
The new committee is the brainchild of French president Nicolas Sarkozy, who originally wanted it to study where the future borders of Europe should be drawn in an attempt to halt Turkey's accession talks with the EU. Due to opposition from some EU states the group's mandate has been restricted to study less- controversial issues such as Europe's economy, social model, migration, energy and climate change. It will put forward ideas on the long-term challenges facing the EU until 2030.
The chairman, and possibly up to 11 other members of the group, are due to be announced at an EU summit on Friday in Brussels.
EU sources said yesterday that Mr Cox was vying with several other candidates such as former Spanish prime minister Felipe Gonzales, former Latvian president Vaira Vike-Freiberga and Jorna Ollila, current chairman of mobile phone giant Nokia.
The Government confirmed yesterday that it was supporting Mr Cox for the role.
"I can think of few Europeans that are better equipped for the position of chair of the group as Pat Cox," said Dick Roche, Minister of State for European Affairs. "He comes from a small country and is a former president of the parliament. He is a good communicator and that is the big challenge for the EU: to communicate better with its citizens."
Appointment to the reflection committee would be a significant honour for Mr Cox as only a third of member states are likely to be represented in its membership.
But it is far from a certainty with a debate between EU leaders on Friday likely to lead to the usual horse-trading and compromise candidates required to get unanimous agreement.
The group will report its conclusions at an EU leaders summit in June 2010.