A second source echoed that stance, saying "no-one else can get unanimity" following informal discussions between EU heads of government and state at a two-day summit in Brussels last week.

Centre-right van Rompuy's spokesman Dirk De Backer issued a straight "no comment" when contacted by AFP on Monday.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy said at the summit's end on Friday that France and Germany will join forces to choose Europe's first full-time president, after sweeping Tony Blair towards the Brussels exit.

Sarkozy said he and German Chancellor Angela Merkel had agreed to back "the same candidate," adding that the pair shared the same "vision" for two new top jobs to be created under the Lisbon Treaty, and their favoured runners.

Van Rompuy, 62, is "not a candidate, but he is the favourite," wrote Belgian daily De Standaard on Monday, adding that he could be "the most acceptable (name) under a Franco-German 'deal'."

The Swedish EU presidency will formally open consultations on nominations as soon the Czech president signs the bloc's Lisbon Treaty.

A Czech court ruling due on Tuesday is expected to pave the way after EU leaders agreed to grant Prague an exemption from a rights charter tied to the treaty.

Sarkozy said the successful candidate would need to be both "charismatic" and a "consensus-builder," hinting at Blair's star falling by saying: "The names in the first wave are not necessarily the winners."

A debate over personalities has focused on whether the EU wants a big name such as Blair for the international stage or an internal manager working alongside the bloc's key drivers in Merkel and Sarkozy.