British FM declines top EU post: Socialists

(BRUSSELS) - British Foreign Secretary David Miliband has turned down the new post of EU foreign policy supremo created by the Lisbon Treaty, the head of the Socialist bloc in the European parliament said Monday.

"Mr Miliband told me recently that he would not be a candidate, and I heard that he confirmed that over the weekend," said Martin Schulz, leader of the Socialist group, told AFP.

Schulz, who said he considered Miliband's stand to be "definitive", threw his weight behind former Italian prime minister Massimo D'Alema for the job as Europe's top diplomat.

Last week, the British Labour Party minister was top of the list of candidates preferred by the EU's Socialist parties for the post, a beefed up version of the job held by EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana.

But Miliband has insisted he wants to continue to work for the government, ahead of a tough British election next spring, even though his stance appeared to leave some room for manouevre.

As recently as Sunday, D'Alema was thought to have little chance.

With the job of European president -- also created by the new Lisbon Treaty set to enter force next year -- likely to go to a conservative, centre-left parties are best placed to have one of their number in the foreign policy post.

In what is shaping up as a pivotal week for the figureheads likely to lead the new-look European Union, the presidency appears set to go to Belgian Prime Minister Herman van Rompuy.