Brussels, 28/01/2009 (Agence Europe) -The European Union is struggling to agree on a replacement for the current director of the European Police Office (Europol), Max-Peter Ratzel of Germany, who is to leave his post in mid-April, having announced that he would not be standing again. On Wednesday 28 January, the permanent representatives of the EU held a "difficult" debate on the choice of the future Europol director. It is believed that there are still two candidates to take over the vacant position. The first of these is Rob Wainwright of the United Kingdom, Director of the international division of the Serious Organised Crime Agency. The second is Hungary's Ferenc Banfi, currently Head of the EU mission on the border between Moldova and Ukraine (EUBAM). As provided for in the current Treaty, the Council must decide unanimously on one of the two contenders. "Even though it was largely of a technical nature, the debate between the ambassadors proved somewhat difficult", said a diplomat after the "green room" meeting. Each one supports their own candidate and coalitions are starting to form, firstly among the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, which supports Mr Banfi's candidateship, the diplomat continued. "A fight is the last thing that is needed in the context of the forthcoming reform of Europol", he concluded, recalling that the Office will become an Agency of the Union in 2010, with increased prerogatives in terms of cross-border crime. The home affairs ministers will tackle the issue over their lunch, which is to be held in Brussels on 26 February. (B.C./transl.fl)