Tony Blair

...leader, and Jan Peter Balkenende, the Dutch premier, a potential rival. Gordon Brown, British prime minister, has been pressing Mr Blair's case behind the scenes. Downing Street officials hope that France, Italy, Spain and possibly Poland...

In this article: European Union, Nicolas Sarkozy, Angela Merkel, Jean-Claude Juncker, Iraq War, Le Monde, Bernard Kouchner, and Brussels

...a growing consensus for his candidacy, but she thinks Mr Balkenende is a "good candidate". Poland and Spain are also wary of Mr Blair becoming president. Other possible candidates include former Spanish premier Felipe Gonzalez and the...

In this article: European Union, Angela Merkel, Iraq War, Europe, Jan Peter Balkenende, and Iraq

...told journalists Wednesday. "The name of David Miliband is the most quoted name in this (diplomatic) circle, probably for the reason that Tony Blair's chances are going down," Tombinski said. The EU's Lisbon Treaty, which is to...

In this article: EU, David Miliband, Jan Peter Balkenende, Massimo D'Alema, Warsaw Pact, and Italy

...countries opposing Tony Blair's bid to be EU president Tony Blair's hopes of becoming the first president of the European Union have been dealt a potentially fatal blow by Poland. By Martin Banks in Brussels and Melissa Kite, Political...

In this article: European Union, Chris Bryant, Poland, The Sunday Telegraph, Labour, Brussels, Silvio Berlusconi, and Felipe Gonzalez

There are signs the former prime minister - dubbed 'Boney' Blair, after Napoleon Bonaparte, because of his vaulting ambition - may face opposition with Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Poland making their resistance clear. Some...

In this article: European Union, David Miliband, Europe, Britain, Gordon Brown, Conservative Party, Xenophobia, Chris Bryant, and Angela Merkel

...built from courage, balance and prudence ... will not dissipate," he wrote. Tony Blair begged wife Cherie to protect him from Berlusconi's bandanna The job will not even come into force before the Lisbon Treaty is ratified in all 27...

In this article: European Union, Silvio Berlusconi, Il Foglio, Corriere della Sera, Franco Frattini, Poland, and Italy

...create a constitution for the EU. However, if Blair becomes the EU president, he would receive a salary estimated at around 275,000 pounds, generous expenses and allowances and a chauffer-driven limousine, as well as a personal staff of 20.

In this article: European Union, Tories, William Hague, Labour, Angela Merkel, Gordon Brown, Nicolas Sarkozy, and Ireland

...forces that threatened to overwhelm it. Tony Blair had to intervene and devote resources and prime ministerial attention to the issue in order to get the asylum system back towards a semblance of order. And then, in 2004, a new wave of...

In this article: Labour Party, Nick Griffin, Jack Straw, Referendum Party, Liberal Democrats, Chris Huhne, Boris Johnson, and Ken Livingstone

...where his biggest opponents are. He is in the lead, all the same. France backs him probably, Italy certainly, Spain interestingly (his help with ETA terrorism trumps Iraq). Poland probably does, and the Czechs do. Rivals are duller, and less...

In this article: Angela Merkel, Europe, EU, Jose Manuel Barroso, Brussels, The Sun, Centre for European Reform, and Hu Jintao