European Union leaders have agreed to appoint Portugal's Prime Minister, Mr José Manuel Durão Barroso, as the next president of the European Commission, writes Denis Staunton in Brussels.
The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, said yesterday that he will propose Mr Barroso as Mr Romano Prodi's successor at a meeting of EU leaders in Brussels tomorrow evening.
"I am very pleased to be able to confirm that there is overwhelming support for the appointment of Portuguese Prime Minister Barroso as president of the Commission . . . I am hopeful that he can respond positively," he said.
The Taoiseach's statement followed telephone consultations over the weekend with other EU leaders and ended 10 days of bitter wrangling over the appointment.
Mr Barroso's appointment became certain after Spain and France dropped objections linked to his support for the US-led war in Iraq.
Britain's Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, yesterday welcomed the prospect of Mr Barroso, who has led Portugal's centre-right government for the past two years, taking the EU's top job.
Germany's Chancellor, Mr Gerhard Schröder, also expressed support for the nomination, although he added that "a few questions" have yet to be clarified.
Such questions could include Germany's ambition to see its EU Commissioner, Mr Günther Verheugen, appointed as a "super-commissioner" for economic policy.
Mr Barroso is certain of the support of the centre-right European People's Party (EPP), the largest group in the European Parliament.
But leaders of the second largest group, the Socialists, have written to EU leaders calling for alternative candidates to be considered.