French FM Kouchner eyeing EU role?

(PARIS) - French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner on Sunday did not rule out the possibility that he could make a bid to become Europe's new foreign policy chief.

Kouchner sidestepped a question during a radio interview about whether he would be a candidate to succeed Javier Solana as the European Union's high representative for foreign policy.

"It's an interesting post. For the time being there are no candidates," Kouchner told RTL radio.

He went on to say "it's a fantastic post. It's really fascinating".

Solana is due to end his term in office soon after 10 years in the post and his successor is expected to have an expanded role in shaping European policy once the Lisbon Treaty is adopted.

France's minister for Europe, Pierre Lellouche, separately told a television interview that two former foreign ministers, Hubert Vedrine and Michel Barnier, were possible contenders.