Blair and the US eye up European presidential spot

THE Allies and the Axis will gather in the German capital today to symbolically re-stage the fall of the Berlin Wall. The event20 years ago today was the beginning of the final chapter of the Second World War.

As the old foes and friends stand in the Pariser Platz another chapter will open in the history of Europe. For, almost certainly, the first president of the European Council and the EU’s first foreign minister will be earmarked as the next, and possibly final phase, of the European Union takes off.

The subject is not, of course, on the agenda for what is to be a convivial evening with a concert and dinner for the leaders of the 27 member states but, with time ticking by so quickly, it is expected to be the main topic of their conversation on the sidelines.