16/07/2004 (Agence Europe) - Diplomatic sources suggest France will not be putting forward Yves Franquet to head Europol once the EU25 experiences a complete breakdown of the appointment procedures at the JHA Council on Monday. The Netherlands is expected to decide on Monday to launch new recruitment procedures (which will take six months at least) and this would mean that Franquet (currently 63) would be very close to the age limit. Spain is refusing to comment on whether it will be putting forward the candidacy of the deputy director of Europol, Mariano Simancas, who has been acting director of the agency since 1 July 2004. The other two candidates in the current procedure are the outgoing Europol president Jurgen Storbeck (of Germany) and Emanuele Marotta (of Italy).