Luxembourg, 29/04/2004 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday, the Fifteen were unable to come to an agreement over who should succeed Jürgen Storbeck of Germany at the head of the European police office, Europol. According to many delegations, the French candidate has more support behind him but this is not enough as unanimity is required. At the end of the day, no vote was held in Council. The French candidate, Jacques Franquet, is director of the international and technical cooperation service of the French police force. The two other contenders are Emanuele Marotta from Italy, former vice-director at Europol, and the outgoing director. Mr Storbeck's tenure ends on 30 June. He took up his post as the first Europol director in July 1999.
According to several European diplomats, Germany is willing to withdraw its candidate if it is attributed the directorate general for justice and home affairs at the Council of Ministers, German Minister of the Interior Otto Schily reportedly announced over lunch.
Speaking to reporters, French Minister Dominique de Villepin backed the French candidate, saying that neither the question of age (born in 1941, he will soon be at the age limit) nor his lack of linguistic knowledge should be to his disadvantage.