Tony Blair is to return to the front line of European politics in Paris this weekend - amid growing signs of a campaign to install him as the European Union's first fully fledged president.

Mr Blair has agreed to speak alongside Nicolas Sarkozy, the President of France, who is actively promoting the former prime minister for a role that would make him the most influential figure in EU affairs.

	Natural for the job: Tony Blair is being tipped to become the President of the EU Council of Ministers

Mr Sarkozy told The Daily Telegraph he held talks with Mr Blair over Christmas while both were holidaying in the Egyptian resort of Sharm El Sheikh.

While he refused to be drawn about the detail of their discussions, Mr Sarkozy said he was "delighted" that Mr Blair had agreed to attend the conference of his centre-Right Union pour un Mouvement Populaire (UMP).

Mr Blair's speech will be his most important since he left Downing Street last June and he is expected to dwell on the EU's role in world affairs.

It will be followed by his attendance at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, later this month and an appearance soon after at a meeting of French socialists.

Hailing his decision, the UMP's website says the meeting is "assuming a particular and exceptional character with the participation of the former prime minister of Great Britain, Tony Blair".

Gordon Brown is likely to be less enthusiastic about the prospect of his old rival returning to centre stage - both within the EU and at the Davos gathering attended by world statesmen and business leaders.

A spokesman for Mr Blair said he remained "fully focused" on his job as a Middle Peace Envoy for the quartet of powers - the EU, United Nations, United States and Russia.

But he refused to rule Mr Blair out for the new EU post, which will begin in January next year.

The President of the EU Council of Ministers - which could be taken on a three-day working week - will carry a package worth around £200,000 a year and would make Mr Blair the most important figure in EU politics.

Last October, Mr Sarkozy said choosing Mr Blair would be a "smart move" because he remained one the EU's most outstanding figures.

Denis MacShane, the former Europe minister, said last night that many in Europe thought Mr Blair was a "natural for the job".

However, he said Mr Blair's support for the war in Iraq and the UK's decisions not to take part in core EU projects, such as the euro, might count against him when EU leaders vote later this year.