Brussels, 08/03/2000 (Agence Europe) - During the press conference that he gave on Wednesday for the publication of the European Commission recommendations concerning the stability programme of France, Luxembourg and Portugal (see previous article), Perdo Solbes was questioned on the European candidacy to the position of Director General of the International Monetary Fund. He noted that the decision made during the Ecofin Council to present the German Secretary of State to Finances Caio Koch-Weser was not a "Community" decision, but a decision taken unanimously by the Member State. Following the opposition from the united states to the designated European candidate, Berlin decided to put a new candidate forward, that of Horst Kohler, present President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and development (EBRD) (see yesterday's EUROPE, p.12). The German authorities are presently hold bilateral contacts with other European capitals in view of reaching a consensus on this new candidate, stated Mr. Solbes specifying that the commission retained its consistent position to push for a unanimous decision from the Member State. Questioned over the lessons that he drew from this episode with regard to the European credibility in the international arena, Mr. Solbes indicated that it was necessary to respect the rule in force, but that he preferred "another system in the future."