The battle for Europe's top job
From CNN European Political Editor Robin Oakley
 |  In the running: (clockwise from top left) Verhofstadt, Cox, Rasmussen and Patten. |
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BRUSSELS, Belgium (CNN) -- At a summit that begins this week, European leaders have to agree not only on a new constitution but also on a new President of the European Commission -- the EU's executive arm.
The job normally goes to a former prime minister but a dismal round of low turnout elections has increased pressure to find a prominent figurehead to give Europe new direction.
Indeed, finding a new president of the European Commission always involves much horse-trading according to people's view of how Europe should advance.
But in the search for Romano Prodi's successor there's an additional factor.
"Iraq, which has been a very divisive issue over the past two years, is going to play a key role," explains analyst Alasdair Murray, from think-tank the Centre for European Reform.
"There are some candidates who are unacceptable to the British as a pro-war country. There are some candidates who are totally unacceptable to France."
One early favorite, Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt, lined up with France and Germany against the war in Iraq -- so British Prime Minister Tony Blair won't be voting for him.
EU External Relations Commissioner, and the last British governor of Hong Kong, Chris Patten certainly has intellectual clout.
But the French complain Patten doesn't speak their language well enough.
That's not a problem for Portugal's commissioner Antonio Vittorino. But, like Patten and Pat Cox, the president of the European Parliament, he hasn't been a prime minister.
Anders Fogh Rasmussen of Denmark is one.
Widely praised for the Danish EU council presidency, which struck the deal to bring in ten new members, Rasmussen then showed the passion Europe may need.
"In 1989 brave and visionary people tore down the Berlin Wall. Today we delivered on their hopes ... Europe is spreading its wings in freedom, prosperity and peace," Rasmussen said in 2002.
But since Denmark backed the U.S.-led war effort, the Iraq factor may impact on him too.
Also mentioned in the running -- though he denies he is a candidate -- is Luxembourg's Prime Minister Jean Claude Juncker.
However, the big question is what sort of commission president the EU prime ministers want.
"They clearly want someone to make a success of the job," says Richard Whitman, from the Royal Institute of International Affairs.
"However, what they don't really want is a personality as big as (former EU president) Jacques Delors, who really gave the commission some strength and influence across Europe. So as I say they're really in two minds -- somebody who's competent but not somebody who will give them too hard a time."
So it seems the job credentials are this: good but not too good; competent, but not competent enough to be a rival to national governments; and probably a former prime minister.
It's a daunting job description and a tricky steering task for Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern, who'll chair the discussions.
And to add extra spice, diplomats say that Ahern could become a candidate himself if he sews up a deal on the EU constitution.
