(BRUSSELS) - Belgian Foreign Minister Karel De Gucht indicated on Tuesday he was against former British prime minister Tony Blair being the European Union's first president, without explicitly naming him.

"In my opinion, the person who will finally be designated for this task should not come from a member state that is benefiting from a structural opt out from several core European endeavours," he said in a speech in Lisbon but released in Brussels.

Although De Gucht did not specifically name Blair, he clearly targetted him by citing British opt-outs from key EU projects such as the Schengen passport-free travel area, the euro currency and the Charter of Fundamental Rights.

"It seems natural that the member state from which the future figurehead of Europe emanates, should be part of the entire 'acquis communautaire'," De Gucht said, in reference to the body of law underpinning the EU.

De Gucht's conditions would also rule out Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen, who has also been mentioned as a possible candidate, because his country does not use the euro, although Rasmussen has called for a referendum on the issue.

Denmark has had other opt-outs from EU projects on joint defence matters, justice cooperation and European citizenship since its 1992 rejection of the Maastricht treaty in a referendum.

A more permanent president is one of the main features foreseen by the bloc's so-called Lisbon Treaty, which EU leaders adopted in the Portuguese capital in December.

The treaty, which replaces the EU's scrapped constitution, is in the process of being ratified by the Union's 27 member states so that it can come into effect some time next year.

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