The European Union’s first full-time president will be chosen on November 19 and is almost certain to be a sitting or former head of government, Fredrik Reinfeldt, Sweden’s prime minister, said on Tuesday.

In an interview with the Financial Times, Mr Reinfeldt, who is leading the appointment process, disclosed that he had decided on next Thursday as the date when the EU’s 27 heads of state and government should go to Brussels to finalise their choice at a working dinner.