David Miliband gave his strongest signal that he is interested in leaving the Government to become the European Union foreign minister when he took a last-minute flight to join EU leaders in Berlin as they discussed who should become their first president and foreign representative.

The Foreign Secretary cancelled appointments in Britain and surprised diplomats by travelling to Germany to mingle with European leaders attending the celebrations of the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Fredrik Reinfeldt, the Prime Minister of Sweden, which holds the EU’s rotating presidency, took soundings about both jobs during breaks in proceedings at the Brandenburg Gate.

Mr Reinfeldt refused to confirm the names in play. During the afternoon he said that he was halfway through his first round of consultations with the 26 other heads of government and hoped to finish by the end of the week.

The Times has learnt that Mr Miliband decided only very late last week to join the gathering, cancelling on Friday afternoon a meeting that he had been scheduled to attend at Westminster today for the Britain-Palestine parliamentary group.

Speculation has been building that Mr Miliband is front-runner to be high representative, which involves representating the EU diplomatically for five years and running its new foreign service. Mr Miliband has consistently denied that he is available for the post, maintaining the government line of supporting Tony Blair’s attempt to become the EU’s first president.

Last night Gordon Brown held informal meetings with fellow leaders. Downing Street said that Mr Brown had reiterated his support for Mr Blair. Nevertheless, many people were preoccupied only with the Foreign Secretary. “Europe is waiting to hear whether Mr Miliband is available,” said one diplomat close to the talks.

Mr Reinfeldt refused to discuss reports that Mr Blair’s chances of becoming Europe’s first president had faded. It is thought that leaders are keen on the candidacy of the Belgian Prime Minister, Herman Van Rompuy, because he represents a state that is smaller and more pro-EU than Britain.

Mr Van Rompuy is from the centre Right, which is laying claim to the post of president in a deal to give the job of foreign minister to the Left. Mr Miliband has emerged as a perfect fit as high representative in tandem with Mr Van Rompuy as president because of the balance of a left-of-centre candidate from a large country with a right-of-centre small country leader.

The other combination being suggested is that of the Dutch Prime Minister, Jan Peter Balkenende, as president, with Massimo D’Alema, formerly Italy’s Prime Minister, as high representative. Mr D’Alema was last night given the backing of Martin Schulz, the leader of the European parliament’s main left-wing bloc.

British and Swedish diplomats were taken by surprise at Mr Miliband’s last-minute decision to attend. “You know more than I do,” said Ruth Jacoby, the Swedish Ambassador to Germany, when asked about the Foreign Secretary’s trip. A British diplomat at first referred to “diary confusion” last week over Mr Miliband — and then said that on Thursday night he had been invited by Guido Westerwelle, the German Foreign Minister.

Mr Reinfeldt tried to bring some Swedish calm to speculation over the identity of candidates for president and foreign minister yesterday. “The Europe of 27 has many heads of state and government and I want to do this thoroughly,” he said — and then warned France and Germany not to fix the jobs between them.

“It is not just about two telling us what to do and then thinking we have the answer,” said Mr Reinfeldt.

“I am halfway through my consultations and not everyone is naming the same people. It is important that everyone has their say and that we find the right balance. I will not confirm any candidate at this stage. I want to make my first round, to see who could have support. Based on that, I will decide to have an extra summit and that time I will ask different people if they are standing as candidates.”

Back in London, when the Prime Minister’s spokesman was asked during a regular daily press briefing if Mr Brown would rule out nominating Mr Miliband, he told Westminster reporters: “If the Prime Minister is not actively campaigning for David Miliband for the role — which he is not — then he is clearly not desiring for him to be a candidate for the role. The point is, nor is David Miliband.

“The Prime Minister has no intention of nominating David Miliband, because that is not an eventuality that is actually going to happen — on the basis that David Miliband has made clear that he doesn’t want the job.”

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