Brussels, 12/06/2009 (Agence Europe) - After the meeting between Nicolas Sarkozy and Angela Merkel in Paris on Thursday 11 June, it is "more than likely" that next week's European Council (18-19 June) will go no further than to give its agreement in principle, its "political green light", to the reappointment of José Manuel Barroso as leader of the next European Commission, European diplomats confirmed on Friday 12 June. With this "political designation", the process will be launched and Mr Barroso can start putting together his new Commission, but the legal decisions - a formal proposal by the European Council and vote of approval at the European Parliament for the whole of the Commission - will not be made until after the Irish referendum at the end of October, when it will be known which treaty (Nice or Lisbon) will be applied. Delaying the process until the autumn will also make it possible to put together a package with the nominations for the two new posts provided for by the Lisbon Treaty: stable Presidency of the European Council and High Representative on Foreign Policy - and with the presidency of the EP. Mr Barroso should also present his programme, added Mr Sarkozy and Ms Merkel. "We have asked Mr Barroso to clarify and formalise his intentions: to ensure that Europe protects Europeans, to commit to create better financial regulation, to bring a political willingness for Europe", said the French president. The Franco-German proposal won the support of the Czech Presidency, which has so far been in favour of Mr Barroso's definitive appointment in July. Further to a meeting at the Elysée Palace with Mr Sarkozy, Czech Prime Minister Jan Fischer expressed his agreement with the proposed scenario regarding both the timetable and the suggestion that Mr Barroso provide clarifications about his programme. (H.B./transl.fl)