Mandelson misses out on chance of EU rehabilitation

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Peter Mandelson, the former secretary of state for Northern Ireland, has missed out on a swift political rehabilitation after Tony Blair pulled back from nominating him for an important committee on the future of Europe.

Mr Mandelson and the former foreign secretary, Robin Cook, were in the running for a place on a new group that includes Jacques Delors, the former European Commission president.

The committee will brainstorm over the future of the EU, prepare an unprecedented admission of the bloc's failings ­ prompted by the Irish rejection of the Nice Treaty and the riots at the Gothenburg summit ­ and help to set the agenda for crucial changes due to take place in 2004.

Mr Mandelson's name was raised in talks between the Belgian Prime Minister, Guy Verhofstadt, and Mr Blair before the general elections. Belgium, which takes over the rotating presidency of the EU next month, is appointing the group to help advise on a declaration to be issued at December's summit in Laeken, Brussels.

Although Mr Blair was expected to confirm his nomination on Tuesday, Downing Street stayed silent. Mr Cook, now the Leader of the Commons, was considered but his duties as a cabinet minister ruled him out. The appointment would have been an important step in the rehabilitation of Mr Mandelson who fell from grace after his second cabinet resignation.

Yesterday, Mr Verhofstadt announced that its members will include a former Italian premier, Guiliano Amato, the ex-Belgian prime minister, Jean Luc Deheane, and a Polish foreign minister, Bronislaw Geremek. The presence of Mr Deheane, whom John Major vetoed from the job of European Commission president because of his integrationist views, will be a spur to Mr Blair to try to secure a British presence on the committee.

The group being set up could play a crucial role in shaping the future development of the EU ahead of a new round of constitutional change due to take place in 2004. Already christened the "Laeken group", it aims to help draw up a declaration for December's summit, which will pave the way for the first, preparatory stage for a new round of constitutional change due to take place in 2004.

At Laeken, Europe will address whether it wants to produce a new constitution, and how it intends to divide competences between the EU and member states.