'STRONG' SUPPORT FOR D'ALEMA, EP SOCIALISTS

'STRONG' SUPPORT FOR D'ALEMA, EP SOCIALISTS

(ANSA) - Brussels, November 9 - The European Parliament's Social Democratic caucus leader Martin Schulz "strongly supports" the candidacy of Italian ex-foreign minister and ex-prime minister Massimo D'Alema to be the European Union's new diplomatic chief, caucus sources told ANSA Monday.

The sources said the caucus had swung behind D'Alema after British Foreign Secretary David Miliband appeared to have ruled himself out.

D'Alema said his candidacy was "a very delicate affair on which I cannot and must not say anything".

Diplomatic sources said Monday's meeting of European leaders in Berlin to mark the 20th anniversary of the Berlin Wall's fall could bring a "breakthrough" in the appointment debate.

Also up for grabs is the post of the EU's first standing president.

Belgium's conservative PM Herman van Rompuy is seen as hot favourite for this job.

But according to The Times newspaper, ex-British PM Tony Blair is still trying to canvass support for his bid.

If Blair succeeds, the other post would have to go to a conservative leader since its caucus is the biggest in the EP.

Both posts, with new powers attached, have been set up in the Lisbon Treaty which comes into effect on January 1.

The Swedish presidency of the EU said Monday it had yet to set a date for an extraordinary summit to make the appointments.

Diplomatic sources said the meeting would "probably" be on November 14, 15 or 18.