Europe's leaders are to meet this week to discuss climate change, financial regulation - and Tony Blair.

Only the first two items are on the official agenda for Gordon Brown and his counterparts at a summit in Brussels, but the third is on everyone's lips.

The key question is whether the member states want to anoint a high-profile internationally-recognisable political figure as the first president of Europe, a new job created under the Lisbon Treaty.

However, because the treaty is not in force until Czech president Vaclav Klaus signs it, the subject everyone wanted to discuss and settle at the talks is banished to the summit corridors and watering holes.

The vitally-needed Czech signature is now expected before the end of the year, but the longer it takes, the longer the wait for a full discussion of runners and riders in a race which is only open to former EU prime ministers and heads of state.

''The new role does not yet exist, and there is as yet no detailed job description,'' explained one EU official. ''Furthermore, Mr Blair has not announced that he is in the running.''

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