Prodi: Barnier will probably be French foreign minister

Romano Prodi, president of the European Commission, has said that "it is quite probable" that Michel Barnier will be named French foreign minister.

Barnier is currently the EU commissioner responsible for regional policy.

If appointed to the French government, Barnier will follow Greece's Anna Diamantopoulou and Spain's Pedro Solbes in leaving the commission ahead of the October 31 expiry of its mandate.