The epithet most usually added to the name of Wolfgang Schüssel is "wily", reflecting the Austrian chancellor's skills as a tactician and negotiator after 37 years in politics, the past 15 as a minister and five as his country's leader.

But even at 60, Mr Schüssel, responsible for economics and foreign policy before becoming chancellor in 2000, will need every grain of his political judgment to steer the European Union during next year's Austrian presidency.