**David Miliband has ruled himself out of taking a senior role within the EU, while endorsing Tony Blair for the new post of European president.**There have been suggestions the foreign secretary may become the new EU high representative for foreign affairs, to be created under the Lisbon Treaty.
But Mr Miliband told the BBC he was not “available” to be a candidate.
He added it would be “good for Britain and good for Europe” if Mr Blair became the president of the European Council.
Although Mr Blair is seen as frontrunner for the role, the Conservatives and Lib Dems are opposed to this and certain European governments are believed to have misgivings.
‘Swift process’
Both positions are due to come into force once the Lisbon Treaty has been ratified by all 27 EU members.
The Czech Republic is the only EU nation yet to have ratified the treaty but its president says it is getting closer to doing so.
LISBON TREATY
- Creates new post of EU president (President of European Council)
- New post of High Representative for Foreign Affairs
- More decisions by majority vote, rather than unanimity
- Ratified by all member states except Czech Republic
- Only Ireland held referendum on it - twice (‘Yes’ vote second time)
- Took a decade of negotiations
- Was intended to take effect in January 2009
The treaty incorporates the Charter of Fundamental Rights, which covers a wide range of EU citizens’ rights and will become legally binding once Lisbon enters into force.
Mr Miliband told the BBC’s Andrew Marr show that the positions could be filled “relatively swiftly” once the Czech Republic had approved the Treaty.
But he ruled himself out from being considered for either job.
“I am not a candidate for that. I am not available.”
Endorsing Mr Blair for the role of EU president, he said whoever took the role needed to be on par with other world leaders and be able to “stop the traffic in Beijing and Moscow”.
“I think it would be good for Britain and for Europe if Tony Blair was a candidate and was chosen,” he said.
Mr Blair has been endorsed for the post of president of the European Council by Gordon Brown and a number of European leaders including Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi.
Should the former prime minister take on the new role, it would effectively rule out Mr Miliband or any other British candidate from the foreign affairs post.
The Conservatives are opposed to Mr Blair becoming EU president and are still calling for a referendum in the UK on the Lisbon Treaty.
The Czech president says he will only sign the treaty if he secures an opt-out for his country from the Charter of Fundamental Rights, which covers EU citizens’ rights.
On Friday, he said that he was satisfied that an EU proposal on the issue would address his concerns.