Treaty of Lisbon clears final hurdle

November 3, 12:46 PMTampa Political Buzz ExaminerKyle Sennett

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Czech President Klaus at a press conference, signs treaty (Photo: AP)

Czech President Vaclav Klaus signed the European Union's Lisbon Treaty Tuesday morning, clearing the path of the EU to ratify the full treaty and proceed with the changes therein. Included in those changes will be a new and strengthened role for a European Union president. The Treaty will go into effect December 1st, and current EU president, Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, whose term expires at the end of the year, will convene meetings to discuss candidates for the new full-time presidential post. The Sofia Echo reports:

The treaty establishes, among various other provisions, the new post of full-time President of the European Council and a new-style foreign minister for the bloc. But former UK prime minister Blair, who has been pitching for the job of European Council President, appeared to be losing ground in his bid.

The BBC said that Gordon Brown’s UK government, which has been backing Blair, had "signalled that a defeat for Blair’s candidacy is now ‘a clear possibility’."

Leaders of EU countries with socialist governments reportedly have not rallied behind Blair.

If Blair really is losing ground, this could open the way for other candidates, in a field that could then be led by Luxembourg prime minister Jean-Claude Juncker. Other candidates for the European Council President job are said to include Jan Peter Balkenende, the prime minister of The Netherlands, Latvia’s former president Vaira Vike-Freiberga, Ireland’s former prime minister John Bruton, Austria’s former chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel and Spain’s former prime minister Felipe Gonzalez.