The spectacle of the European Union limping its way towards final ratification of the Lisbon reform treaty by all 27 members is uninspiring, but the end is in sight. It will not happen in time for this week’s EU summit, because the Czech constitutional court is still considering some last-minute objections. But even Vaclav Klaus, the contrarian Czech president, seems to accept that a deal can be done that will ensure his signature is added in the coming weeks.

The prospect of ratification means that manoeuvring has already begun for the new jobs to be created – semi-permanent president of the European Council, and a more powerful EU foreign affairs supremo. Britain’s Tony Blair and Jean-Claude Juncker of Luxembourg are “non-candidates” for the former. They may well cancel each other out. There are regrettably still no obvious favourites for the latter job.