Sliding doors I

A deal between the EPP-ED and the PES over the Parliament president arrangement would certainly suit Germany's SPD, by lockingA its CDU coalition partner into sharing top posts even if the coalition does not survive the autumn 2009 German elections. EU officials believe Steinmeier is keen to replace Günter Verheugen as Germany's next European commissioner if, as expected, the SPD does badly in the elections.

Sliding doors II

Nicolas Sarkozy is reported to want France's current permanent representative, Pierre Sellal, to replace his compatriot Pierre de Boissieu as deputy secretary-general of the Council. If Sarkozy decides to push for Kouchner as high representative, it could provide France with a bargaining position to accept the powerful number two post at the Council as an alternative.Claude Juncker as Council president and expressly  reject former UK prime minister Tony Blair), there is increasing support for the concept of a package by December, because once the Lisbon treaty comes into force, the new Council  president and the newly strengthened high representative will have to start  work. One of the incidental casualties of an early deal, paradoxically, would be the Lisbon treaty's pious hopes for account to be taken of  the views of EU citizens as  reflected in the outcome  of the European Parliament elections.