Paris  - Luxembourg President Jean-Claude Juncker is largely favoured to become the first president of the European Council, the French daily Le Figaro reported, citing sources in the French government.

In addition, Le Figaro reported that current European Commission head Jose Manuel Barroso will remain at that post for a second term. Both men are "big favourites" for the influential posts, sources in the Elysee Palace are quoted as saying.

The posts will be filled in December 2008, at the final EU summit meeting of France's six-month European Union presidency. French President Nicolas Sarkozy will be charged with finding a consensus among the 27 EU member nations.

Sarkozy earlier had lobbied for former British prime minister Tony Blair to be named first president of the European Council. But Blair is widely considered to be too Euro-skeptic for the role. (dpa)