BBC: Ministers have played down speculation Tony Blair could be offered the job of president of the European Council.
The role - dubbed "president of Europe" - will be created under the terms of the new EU reform treaty.
But Europe Minister Jim Murphy said Mr Blair was "already busy as an envoy in the Middle East and he has a fantastically important job to do".
He was speaking after French President Nicolas Sarkazy said Mr Blair would be a "good choice" for the new job.
'No discussion'
Speaking at the conclusion of the EU summit in Lisbon, Mr Sarkozy told reporters: "I saw Tony Blair two nights ago. He is a very remarkable man.
"He is the most European of Britons ... it would be intelligent to think of him."
Mr Sarkozy also praised Luxembourg's prime minister Jean-Claude Juncker, who supports a more federal Europe in contrast to Mr Blair's support for the primacy of nation states, as a possible candidate.
But he said it would be "premature" for France to take an official position at this stage. Talk of Blair EU role played down (more)
Mark Alexander
