How much longer does Tony Blair have to wait before he finds out if he has a new job?

Maybe just a few days. A shortlist is being drawn up by Fredrik Reinfeldt, the Prime Minister of Sweden, which currently holds the EU’s rotating presidency. He will call a one-day summit soon to make the final decision. The anniversary on Monday of the Berlin Wall coming down — he will be in Berlin for the occasion — gives him a perfect opportunity to consult fellow EU leaders

So will the 27 leaders hold some kind of presidential election?

Each leader will be asked for one or two names and, in a second round of one-to-one meetings with Mr Reinfeldt, be asked if they strongly object to anyone on his final shortlist of two or three names. A clear winner could emerge at this stage.

If not, they will hold a private meeting when the main supporters of the candidates — or the candidates themselves, if they are around the table — will make their case. The President will then be chosen by a vote under qualified-majority rules, ie, bloc voting. Bigger countries will have more votes. Bad luck, Latvia

How do they choose the new EU Foreign Minister?

During the process of choosing the President, Mr Reinfeldt will also ask for names for the High Representative position because the two jobs must reflect a balance between big and small countries, as well as Left and Right. But in the case of the High Representative, who could be David Miliband, the head of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, will also be consulted because this post is also vice-president of the Commission. Although a name will emerge from the 27 leaders in the same way as the choice for President, the High Representative must be confirmed at a hearing of the European Parliament next month

What other plum jobs are they giving out?

Every country will nominate a new member of the European Commission. Mr Barroso will deal them out in close consultation with the national leaders. The big countries will demand the top portfolios, such as the internal market, economic affairs, industry or trade — the role currently held by Britain’s Commissioner, Baroness Ashton of Upholland. Each nominee will have to be confirmed by a European Parliament committee

So will it be a British takeover by Blair and Miliband?

No one country will be given both jobs. Mr Blair’s chances are thought to be waning and the favourite has now become the Belgian Prime Minister and writer of haikus, Herman van Rompuy. As for Mr Miliband, there is a lot of enthusiasm for him around the EU and a feeling that, if he really wants it, the job could be his

Times Recommends

• Baroness Ashton: EU couldn’t make it up
• The other belles de nos jours
• Why too much of a good thing is bad for you