Patten may succeed Prodi

The British Conservative Chris Patten, currently the EU Commissioner for External Relations, might become the next EU President.

Sources in Brussels said the EPP was "scouting around" to measure the level of support Mr Patten would get outside the EPP camp if proposed. This was because even though Mr Patten might be proposed by the EPP not all EPP members might back him for domestic reasons. Some would be more inclined to back the Liberal Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt.

The Socialist parties, which also met in Brussels ahead of the summit, opted not to nominate anyone as "it is the turn of the centre right to have the Presidency," sources said, adding that the President could possibly be a Liberal but not a Socialist.

The President of the Commission would have to be approved by the European Parliament and the EPP, which enjoys a majority, has made it clear that the choice should reflect the strength the EPP has in the European Parliament.

"There are a number of candidates from within the EPP who could become President of the Commission but the matter is still open," Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said.

Although the Prime Minister of Luxembourg, Jean Claude Junker, was the favourite candidate, he refused to be nominated.

The candidate whose name was mentioned repeatedly was Mr Verhofstadt but sources said he stood "no chance" as his candidature was being opposed by Italy, Britain and Austria.

Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel had a lot of support from Germanic states but was unlikely to be nominated by the EPP. Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen also enjoyed a degree of support.

Antonio Vitorino, the Portuguese Commissioner for Justice and Interior, who was formerly a Socialist Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister, had been tipped as a very likely candidate but was not nominated by the Socialist group. The Socialists are expected to name a candidate for the post of President of the European Parliament. Discussions had taken place with both the Greens and Liberals about the matter and the EPP had to be consulted shortly too, sources said.

The EU summit is also expected to come up with a name for a candidate to replace the secretary general of the EU Council Javier Solana but no names were mentioned at yesterday's IGC meeting.