The EU's 27 heads of state and government want to agree Thursday on who should fill the new posts of European president and foreign policy supremo created by the reforming Lisbon Treaty, which was ratified this month.
But no candidate has emerged who seems likely to secure unanimous backing -- the preferred method of decision-making, even if a qualified majority vote will do -- at the working dinner, and few have been women.
"There are very few woman nominated," Sweden's European Affairs Minister Cecilia Malmstroem told reporters, ahead of EU talks in Brussels. "I deplore that because there are a lot of competent women all over Europe."
But with the premier of Sweden, currently presiding over the EU, working with leaders to narrow down the list, Malmstroem said he had to weigh a number of factors when choosing Europe's first president, and top diplomat.
"There are lots of balances that need to be taken into consideration, gender, South-North (EU countries), different political opinions and so on."
Belgian Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy is one of the favourites to take up the presidency. British Foreign Secretary David Miliband was well placed for the foreign affairs post, but he has ruled himself out.
Others mentioned for the job of president, with a term of up to five years, include Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende, his Luxembourg counterpart Jean-Claude Juncker and former Latvian president Vaira Vike-Freiberga.
Experts say the nominee should be a low-profile technocrat who operates behind the scenes to harmonise the work of the EU's main institutions: the council of nations, the European Commission, and the European parliament.
For the foreign affairs post, former Italian prime minister Massimo D'Alema has been talked about as a strong candidate if Miliband is not available, as has EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn.
Britain's EU Trade Commissioner Catherine Ashton is another possibility.
"She doesn't have any foreign policy experience, but she's a capable woman, she learns quickly," one senior commission official said.
Her chances may be enhanced as calls multiply for more women to be considered, including for the new European Commission to be appointed in coming weeks.
"I'm always in favour of gender equality," EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said. "I think qualified women should be there."
Finnish Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb said: "We would look a bit silly were we not able to elect or choose a female."
In a letter to the Financial Times daily, EU commissioners Margot Wallstroem and Neelie Kroes, and the vice president of the European parliament Diana Wallis urged EU leaders to pay more than just lip service to gender balance.
"We need a collective political commitment to ensure political representation of women," they wrote in the business newspaper.
"Women make up a majority of the population, and in the 21st century European democracy cannot afford to use only half of its people's talents, ideas and experiences. When women sit at the table, they can help to ensure that the political decisions reflect the needs of the entire population."
Former Irish president Mary Robinson was one of the few women whose name had been raised, but she too has ruled herself out of the running.
Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt underlined that the summit was still three days away. "It's a long time. Three days is approaching eternity in politics," he said. (AFP)
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