David Miliband, the UK foreign secretary, is emerging as the frontrunner to be the European Union's next head of foreign policy, but the contest for the bloc's full-time presidency is still open, diplomats and EU officials said yesterday.

They said Herman Van Rompuy, Belgium's prime minister, was the name on most politicians' lips for the presidency, but pointed out that discussions were continuing among the 27 national leaders who will make the final decision.