A quote from EU Observer, 7 January 2008
 
Irish prime minister Bertie Ahern has let it be known that he would be interested in one of the EU top jobs when the posts comes up for negotiation later this year. […] [H]e added: "I like Europe, I like dealing with Europe. I have been dealing in the European Council now continuously – except for a very short period – for 21 years. And I like all of that." […]
 
In the second half of 2008, when France takes over the EU presidency, negotiations for the EU three major political jobs – president of the European Commission, president of the council and EU foreign minister – are set to begin. […]
 
The trio of personalities - who will fill their posts in 2009 when the new EU treaty is supposed to come into force - is likely to be the result of some ferocious bartering between member states, taking into account country size, political colours and EU credentials.