Luxembourg, 08/06/2004 (Agence Europe) - As expected, the 25 did not reach agreement on Thursday on the appointment of a new Europol director, who is to take up his post on 1 July. The Presidency will "continue to seek an agreement in coming weeks", Michael Mc Dowell, President-in-Office of the Council said. He said the last possible date for adoption on the fringe of a Council is 28 June. If there is still no agreement at that date, the first vice-director of Europol, Mariano Simancas, will become caretaker director. German Interior Minister Otto Schily told the press that he had every hope a solution would be found in the next two weeks. The two main contenders are Jürgen Storbeck of Germany, outgoing Director, and French national Jacques Franquet, but German sources say it has been impossible to reach an agreement without French Interior Minister Dominique de Villepin.