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EU Commission: France and Germany differ on Brussels' top job EU Commission: France and Germany differ on Brussels' top job
(about 3 hours later)
Signs of disagreement have emerged between France and Germany as EU leaders meet following elections that shifted the balance in parliament. France and Germany have disagreed on who should take one of the EU's key roles as leaders from the bloc met following parliamentary elections.
The talks are a chance to assess the new political landscape and consider candidates for the EU's top jobs. The vote saw the big centrist blocs lose their majorities with Greens and nationalists gaining ground.
But the leaders of France and Germany have already suggested different figures to take over the key role of EU Commission president. German Chancellor Angela Merkel wants centre-right candidate Manfred Weber as the next EU Commission president.
The vote saw the big centrist blocs lose their majority for the first time. But French President Emmanuel Macron did not even mention Mr Weber as a contender for the influential position.
Nationalists, liberals and Greens all gained ground, leaving the EU more fragmented and the possibility of finding consensus more distant. Their comments came at a meeting on Tuesday in Brussels, which was a chance for EU leaders to discuss the new political landscape and who might take over the top jobs.
The talks over dinner on Tuesday may not even result in a shortlist of candidates and the haggling is likely to take months. The elections left the EU more fragmented with the chances of reaching consensus more difficult.
UK Prime Minister Theresa May is participating, but Brussels sources say there will be little or no discussion of Brexit. The President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, said Brexit was a factor behind a majority of voters favouring pro-EU parties.
Who will take over at the Commission? "As Europeans see what Brexit means in practice, they also draw conclusions. Brexit has been a vaccine against anti-EU propaganda and fake news."
It is far too early to say. Negotiations are likely to be long and tricky, with several candidates in the mix. UK Prime Minister Theresa May took part in talks but Mr Tusk said Brexit was not discussed.
The role of Commission president, the body that enforces EU rules and drafts EU law, is currently held by Jean-Claude Juncker, who is at the end of his five-year term. Who next for the EU Commission?
The commission is the body that enforces EU rules and drafts EU law, and its presidency is currently held by Jean-Claude Juncker, who is at the end of his five-year term.
In 2014 Mr Juncker was chosen to head the Commission as the centre-right European People's Party (EPP) candidate, after the EPP had won the election.In 2014 Mr Juncker was chosen to head the Commission as the centre-right European People's Party (EPP) candidate, after the EPP had won the election.
But it is a much tougher challenge this time for the EPP's candidate Manfred Weber - a German - after his bloc shrank from 217 seats to 180 in the 751-seat parliament. But it is a much tougher challenge this time for the EPP's candidate Manfred Weber - a German - after his bloc shrank from 217 seats to 180 in the 751-seat parliament, although it remains the biggest grouping.
Arriving in Brussels, Mrs Merkel said she "of course" backed Mr Weber, with her domestic party one of those in the EPP grouping. After the talks, Mrs Merkel, said she stood by Mr Weber, but "others stand by their candidate, which is obvious".
But French President Emmanuel Macron did not even mention Mr Weber as a possible candidate, instead naming chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier, who is French, Danish liberal Margrethe Vestager and Dutch centre-left candidate Frans Timmermans as having the right "skills". Earlier in the day, Mr Macron had said he did not want to talk about names, but also mentioned three, none of them Mr Weber.
Mr Timmermans has described the nomination process as like the brutal TV fantasy drama Game of Thrones. He later refused to name a favourite candidate, saying he wanted them to be "the most charismatic, creative and competent possible".
Among other EU members, the leaders of Ireland and Croatia have backed Mr Weber, Spain and Sweden support Mr Timmermans while Luxembourg has spoken for Ms Vestager. If not Weber, then who?
Several others are in the running, among them chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier, who is French, Danish liberal Margrethe Vestager and Dutch centre-left candidate Frans Timmermans.
The other top EU officials to be replaced later this year are: European Council President Donald Tusk (Polish); European Central Bank President Mario Draghi (Italian) and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Federica Mogherini (Italian).
After lengthy negotiations, the new top officials will take up their posts on 1 November, except for the new European Council chief, who starts on 1 December.
Time to negotiate - and compromiseTime to negotiate - and compromise
The EU has committed to balance gender, political affiliation and geography when it fills its top jobs.The EU has committed to balance gender, political affiliation and geography when it fills its top jobs.
The leaders of the 28 member states will have to compromise with each other, and with MEPs who get to approve the choice. But this morning the European Parliament watered down its demands for the selection of the president of the European Commission, issuing a statement which says the winner only had to be someone "who made his/her programme and personality known prior to the elections, and engaged in a European-wide campaign". The leaders of the 28 member states will have to compromise with each other, and with MEPs who get to approve the choice. The European Parliament has watered down its demands for the selection of the president of the European Commission, issuing a statement which says the winner only had to be someone "who made his/her programme and personality known prior to the elections, and engaged in a European-wide campaign".
That potentially opens the door to candidates who weren't strictly candidates before, such as Margrethe Vestager or maybe even Michel Barnier.That potentially opens the door to candidates who weren't strictly candidates before, such as Margrethe Vestager or maybe even Michel Barnier.
The previous front-runner Manfred Weber admits that his political family lost seats at the election which weakens his claim on the job.The previous front-runner Manfred Weber admits that his political family lost seats at the election which weakens his claim on the job.
There are also hints that the European Parliament will focus its efforts on defining the EU's future direction, rather than seeking a powerful role in picking its personnel. A lot of names will come and go and rise and fall before the process eventually comes to an end later this year.There are also hints that the European Parliament will focus its efforts on defining the EU's future direction, rather than seeking a powerful role in picking its personnel. A lot of names will come and go and rise and fall before the process eventually comes to an end later this year.
The other top EU officials to be replaced later this year are: European Council President Donald Tusk (Polish); European Central Bank President Mario Draghi (Italian) and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Federica Mogherini (Italian).
After lengthy negotiations, the new top officials will take up their posts on 1 November, except for the new European Council chief, who starts on 1 December.
Countdown to EU top jobs:Countdown to EU top jobs: