The senior Belgian MEP, who is a supporter of a united states of Europe, was set to lead the bloc’s latest reformation attempt. The travelling circus is hoping to engage with European citizens before rolling out a series of changes to the bloc over the next two years. But his chequered past as the European Parliament’s Brexit co-ordinator and Belgian prime minister has left doubts in the minds of EU27 leaders, who have to sign off his appointment in the coming months.
Some in Brussels believe Mr Verhofstadt overplayed his role in Britain’s divorce while marshalling the EU Parliament’s response.
He was often seen as a provocateur in the UK, which led to friction between officials trying to negotiate the Withdrawal Agreement.
It also represents a power struggle between the European Council, Commission and Parliament, with all three institutions battling to take control of the bloc’s future.
A senior EU diplomat told Express.co.uk: “Verhofstadt won’t be the guy.
“He would have had a chance had the European Parliament not tried to completely hijack the whole conference and had shown more willingness to do it with and not against the member states.”
Mr Verhofstadt’s snub also comes as a blow to French President Emmanuel Macron, who was told the leadership role would go to an ally after he last year backed down in the row over the Commission presidency.
A second EU diplomat said: “The news will come much to the fury of Macron who secured this position for Renew Europe at the June jobs summit.”
This publication understands that former EU Council chief Donald Tusk’s European People’s Party are readying a “highly qualified” candidate to present at a summit of European leaders in March.
An EU source said the meeting will likely descend into “handbag fight” over who is handing the leading conference role.
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“It is only together that we can build our Union of tomorrow.”
France and Germany had hoped to take full control over the conference, suggesting that it could result in “possible treaty change”.
Despite having the support of the Parliament, Berlin and Paris’ concept was rejected by the Commission.