Fischer eyes EU foreign minister post
By Dace Akule
German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder should already start considering new candidates for the post of foreign affairs minister, as reports are suggesting that the incumbent German foreign minister is already considering the post on an EU level.
According to the German news magazine, Der Spiegel, Joschka Fischer appears willing to switch his focus to the EU's foreign affairs. If Mr Fischer does not change his mind on the matter, he should be ready to go to Brussels from June 2004, Der Spiegel adds.
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French and German proposals currently discussed in the Convention on the Future of Europe, call for one common EU foreign minister for the European block, merging the current separate roles performed by the EU's foreign policy chief Javier Solana and external relations Commissioner Chris Patten.
Der Spiegel reports that the European Commission wants to see the EU foreign minister installed when the new Commission is established. The mandate of the present Commission ends in November 2004.
Yet it would not be reasonable to have a new external relations commissioner for a short period of time, until the EU foreign minister takes over his duties, writes Der Spiegel.
Moreover, although this proposal has gained some support, there have been no announcements on the possible timetable for the creation of such a post.
The German newspaper notes that Mr Fischer's experience gives him a good chance of becoming the first EU foreign affairs minister.
But Germany's stance over Iraq could make Mr Fischer an unattractive candidate for countries such as Britain and Spain, although in recent days he has spoken of the need to restore transatlantic relations, the FT reports.
Earlier this year, there were other allegations that Mr Fischer aims to take over Romano Prodi's job at the head of the European Commission.