(LONDON) - British Prime Minister Tony Blair's office played down a report Saturday that he was being touted for the role of the European Union's first full-time president.

The Financial Times newspaper said new French President Nicolas Sarkozy was understood to have lobbied fellow European leaders, citing German diplomats as saying he had put the plan to German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

But Blair's Downing Street office insisted that he had no interest in taking on a high-profile political role after he steps down from power on June 27.

"In the past the prime minister has made it very clear that he does not want to return to front-line politics," a spokeswoman said.

At next week's EU summit, Merkel wants to reach agreement on a new treaty that would come into force by 2009 at the latest. Germany is the current EU president.

Proposals being considered by the EU include having a permanent person as president of the European Council rather than the current set-up whereby the presidency rotates between the 27 member states.

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