World Trade Organisation chief Mr Peter Sutherland acknowledged today his name had been floated for the job of European Commission president but declined to speculate on whether he would accept it.
Sutherland: I am aware that my name was floated
"I am aware that my name was floated among others by the Taoiseach in his role as president of the council," he said.
Mr Sutherland, who held the powerful position of European Commissioner in charge of competition issues between 1985 and 1989, said any candidate for the job would require the full backing of all EU governments.
"Nobody would consider accepting the job as Commission president which is one of the most difficult jobs in the world without a wholehearted and consensual decision by the European Council," he said.
"We do not seem to be in a such a position but, without it, anybody like me would be very unwise to speculate about what he might do in the future. I will not do so," he said on the sidelines of a business meeting in Rome.
EU leaders failed to agree at a summit last week on who should take over from Mr Romano Prodi, whose term ends in October.