Cowen backs Bruton bid for EU job

Taoiseach Brian Cowen says he supports the surprise candidacy of John Bruton for the position of President of the European Council.

But Mr Cowen has been criticised by Enda Kenny for his earlier support for Tony Blair, whose candidacy is attracting increasing opposition.

Tonight's EU summit in Brussels will not make the appointment, as the Czech President has still not signed the Lisbon Treaty - which creates the new job.

A few weeks ago the Government was warning about being excluded from the heart of Europe, but today it was all smiles and congratulations after the Lisbon Treaty referendum win.

Not only do the Irish appear to be back in Brussels, they seem to fancy their chances for one of the big jobs created by the Lisbon Treaty.

Former Taoiseach John Bruton, who is current EU ambassador to Washington, was one of the architects of the latest EU treaty, and has previously been president of the council.

But he is up against the Former British Prime Minister's increasingly controversial candidacy, which is being backed at the summit by Gordon Brown.

Fianna Fail is now in the Liberal Democrat movement, and the Taoiseach is committed to backing one of its candidates for one of the two top jobs to be filled.

But he did offer support to Mr Bruton's bid.

Officially there will be no talk about names tonight, as the Czechs have still not fully ratified the treaty - they hope to sort that issue out tonight.

But the Czechs will not sign until next week at the earliest, so there will probably be a special summit next month to make the appointments.

In the meantime the corridor politics are in full swing, with the Swedish presidency tasked with finding out which potential candidates have support among the 27 governments, and who should quietly withdraw.