No political deal on EU top jobs after leaders' meeting in Brussels

Our reporters are packing up after a longer-than-expected night at the European Council in Brussels.

Negotiations between leaders and their representatives will continue over the coming days with a view to close a deal during the formal Summit of EU leaders taking place on 27-28 June.

According to one diplomat, the six negotiators representing the three main political groups - the EPP, Socialists and Liberals - have agreed in principle on the trio of nominations for the key roles up for grabs.

According to the diplomat, the lack of consensus is connected to the need to strike a balance between the interests of the centre-right EPP and the Socialists, something which was not achieved on Monday night.

Earlier in the evening, the EPP unexpectedly claimed it wanted a nominee from its own political party to take up one of the two upcoming 2.5-year terms of the European Council presidency, both of which had originally been intended for a Socialist candidate.

Despite hopes EU leaders could coalesce around a trio of candidates for the top jobs of Commission President, Council President and High Representative for Foreign Policy, no political deal was found tonight.

Speaking to reporters around midnight, European Council President Charles Michel said leaders would continue to work to find a deal on the EU’s power-sharing for the next five years.

What leaders had today was “just a good conversation but there’s no agreement tonight at this stage,” he said. "This was absolutely clear from the beginning."

“I'm not surprised at all [by the outcome] as the purpose today was not to make a decision,” he said, adding that the meeting was planned to have an in-depth exchange of views and be transparent about concerns, priorities, hopes, and expectations for the next term.

The next attempt will be penciled for the next official EU summit at the end of the month, “It's our collective duty to make a decision by the end of June. I made this point several times publicly and I have not changed my mind about it,” he concluded.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has said that the "will of the European people" was ignored during tonight's meeting in Brussels.

"The result of the European election is clear: right-wing parties got stronger, the Left and the liberals lost ground. The EPP, on the other hand, instead of listening to the voters, finally teamed up with the socialists and the liberals: today they made a deal and divided the top jobs of the EU among themselves," Orbán said in a post on social media platform X.

Orbán's conservative Fidesz party is currently homeless in the European Parliament after being forced out of the centre-right European People's Party (EPP) in 2021. This year, Fidesz secured the worst result in the European elections since Orbán came to power, but still secured 11 seats.

Despite suggestions she could look to build bridges with the hard-right camp of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) in a potential second term, von der Leyen has vowed to work with her traditional centrist parties since the EPP won the European election.

As expected, the leaders representing the three parties that are supposed to claim the top jobs presented their three frontrunners but there was no decision tonight, an EU diplomat told Euronews.

“Many leaders want to see a programme before agreeing on names,” the source added.

EU leaders have finished their dinner dedicated to top jobs. But no decision is in sight...

After Austria suffered a narrow defeat to France in the last of today's Euro 2024 fixtures, the Austrian Chancellor congratulated the national team of President Emmanuel Macron.

Earlier in the night, Slovakia pulled off a surprise victory against the Belgian team with Slovakian President Peter Pellegrini pictured with a disappointed-looking Belgian prime minister, Alexander De Croo.

The European Union is frequently accused of (and mocked for) being hamstrung by the principle of unanimity, which rules sensitive areas such as foreign policy, taxation and enlargement. Hungary, in particular, has generously used this principle to block agreements it doesn't like or extract concessions from the other 26 member states.

But here, the rule doesn't apply. The distribution of top jobs is, strictly speaking, done by a qualified majority, meaning 15 countries representing at least 65% of the bloc's population. We say "strictly speaking" because leaders, for the sake of political harmony, strive to secure the maximum amount of votes around the table, as the decision is high stakes and has implications for five years.

Back in 2014, Britain's David Cameron and Hungary's Viktor Orbán opposed the appointment of Jean-Claude Juncker for the presidency of the European Commission. In 2019, German Chancellor Angela Merkel abstained to pave the way for Ursula von der Leyen because the ruling coalition could not agree on her name. Both of the nominees eventually got the job.

Several diplomats have confirmed to Euronews that leaders belonging to the centre-right European People’s Party (EPP) have gone into tonight’s negotiations with a hard bargain - to split the upcoming two terms of the European Council president between an EPP and Socialist candidate.

The move is likely to have caught the Socialists - who had claimed the next Council presidency as theirs - off guard.

But with von der Leyen relying on the broad support of the Socialists in a possible vote on her reappointment in the European Parliament next month, the EPP cannot afford to estrange their Socialist counterparts.

A diplomatic source told Euronews that any decision on splitting the EU presidency over the next five-year political mandate would require the support of both the Socialists and the Liberals, and they have a bargaining chip - retracting their support for von der Leyen.

The move could in principle therefore backfire on the EPP. But if the Socialists are bent on securing the Council presidency for the next five years, they could be forced to pledge to build up parliamentary support for von der Leyen, in exchange for concessions on the EPP’s claim to the Council presidency.

The centre-right European People's Party (EPP), which comfortably won the elections with 190 seats, should lead the European Union for the next five years, says Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković.

"We are discussing the next institutional cycle. As the clear winner of the European elections, the EPP should politically lead the EU," Plenković said on social media, after entering the informal summit.

His comments come as the conservatives demand the partisan split-up of one of the three top jobs up for grabs: the presidency of the European Council. Under the new plan, the Socialists would hold the presidency for 2.5 years and then make way for the EPP, who would put forward its candidate for another 2.5 years.

This idea is resented by the progressives, who are determined to secure the presidency for António Costa.

Liberal leaders are expected to get the lowest tier prize in the top jobs package - the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and Vice-President of the European Commission. But tonight's dinner could be the last where European liberals can shine and have a real say for a long time.

Belgium's Alexander De Croo and Dutch Mark Rutte are here only as acting prime ministers and will leave their offices soon, while Estonia’s prime minister Kaja Kallas could need a replacement (likely from her same liberal party) if she is appointed as High Representative by the end of the month. Charles Michel, the other European Council member for the liberals, will also leave his post in November, highly likely to be replaced by a socialist.

Slovenia's Robert Golob and France's Emmanuel Macron will still be attending the forthcoming EU summits in the short term, although the French President could also face a 'cohabitation' situation at home after the national elections that could see him severely weakened by having a Parliament majority from a different colour.

It doesn't get any better at the European Parliament when the liberal group Renew is followed closely by the conservatives (ECR) who might now surpass them and become the third largest party in the hemicycle. All eyes are on whether love will blossom between ECR president Giorgia Meloni and Viktor Orbán (whose Fidesz party is currently with no affiliation) who met today in Brussels for one hour.

Dinner has been served for the 27 heads of state and government, who are now left on their own to decide the EU's top jobs. As previously announced, Ursula von der Leyen has recused herself and left the room.

Charles Michel, the president of the European Council with whom von der Leyen has a notoriously frosty working relationship, stays inside, acting as host.

The first two sessions before the dinner were very short, an EU diplomat told Euronews.

Parliament president Roberta Metsola and Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, both running for a re-appointment, had roughly 25 minutes each to address the EU leaders, the source continued.

Von der Leyen did her pitch for re-appointment but no questions were asked from the leaders. She then recused herself from the rest of the discussions.

The EU diplomat also confirmed that the socialist leaders are - understandably- vocally against the idea of splitting the European Council presidency.

Petr Fiala, the prime minister of Czechia, and Giorgia Meloni, the prime minister of Italy, are "ready to negotiate" over the EU top jobs, Fiala says.

Fiala and Meloni are the only representatives of the hard-right European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group, which is adamantly opposed to the Green Deal and further political integration. The two leaders, however, are unlikely to secure a top job for their political family: the European People's Party (EPP), the Socialists and Democrats (S&D) and the liberals of Renew Europe have greater representation and therefore stronger leverage on the table.

Fiala has already backed Ursula von der Leyen for a second term at the European Commission, while Meloni has so far kept mum about her preferences.

Mark Rutte, the outgoing prime minister of the Netherlands, held a bilateral meeting with his Hungarian counterpart, Viktor Orbán, on the sidelines of the informal summit. The encounter focused on "bilateral and international issues," according to Orbán's spokesperson.

Reading between the lines is easy here: Orbán is currently blocking Rutte's pitch to become the next Secretary General of the NATO military alliance. This position isn't related to the EU top jobs that are being discussed tonight but has become awkwardly entangled in the talks.

The race for the next NATO chief needs to be over by 9 July, when the alliance's leaders will gather for a summit in Washington. Hungary, which resents Rutte's past criticism on rule-of-law issues, and Romania, which has pitched President Klaus Iohannis as its candidate, are the last roadblocks to the Dutchman's ambitions.

Let's not forget leaders are officially gathering for a dinner so here's what they'll be served soon (once bilaterals and trilaterals are over)

The starter is ‘pissaladiere revisitée' - a typical dish of flatbread from the French region of Provence. A curious note: it has been translated as 'pissaladiere with a twist', maybe an invitation to Macron to spice up a package deal that seems so far pretty obvious?

Main course is pan-fried pollack with baby artichokes and Mediterranean vegetables – another good omen for a new Mediterranean European Council president, maybe?

To end, rum baba with mango, passion fruit, and strawberries accompanied with coffee or herbal tea, according to leaders’ taste.

The trilateral meeting between the European People's Party (EPP), the Socialists & Democrats (S&D) and the Liberals of Renew Europe is happening now, sources from the Spanish delegation tell Euronews.

Having the three main parties speak to each other is an indispensable step to deciding the three top jobs, as each family is expected to get one.

The centre-right European People's Party (EPP) is trying to drive a hard bargain: split the next two 2.5 terms of the Council Presidency between a Socialist and one of their own.

The Council president is officially nominated for a 2.5-year term, renewable once, and therefore typically takes office for five years.

The role of Council chief is considered the second most powerful of the three jobs up for grabs, and had been claimed by the Socialist family after they came in second place in the European elections.

Two sources confirmed to Euronews that the EPP negotiators had floated the proposal in the run-up to Monday's over-dinner negotiations. The hypothetical scenario would see the EPP technically hold three of the four top EU positions at a given time, as they are also claiming the Parliament and Commission presidencies.

A source from the Spanish delegation assured that any such hard bargain would need the backing of all three major European families, including the Socialists and Liberals, whose support for EPP lead candidate von der Leyen needs to secure a second term as Commission president.

The start of the informal summit has been delayed due to bilateral talks between the main political families.

First up was the European People's Party (EPP) with the Socialists & Democrats (S&D). Then, the Socialists met with the Liberals of Renew Europe. And then, also separately, the Liberals with the EPP. All of them discussed possibilities for top jobs, diplomatic sources said.

A trilateral meeting couldn't take place but is expected to happen later today.

The chief negotiators for each family are:

• EPP: Poland's Donald Tuks and Greece's Kyriakos Mitsotakis
• S&D: Germany's Olaf Scholz and Spain's Pedro Sánchez
• Renew: Belgium's Alexander De Croo and Estonia's Kaja Kallas

Don't hold your breath, says Finland.

According to the office of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, the deal on top jobs won't be sealed tonight, and "discussions on senior appointments will continue at the European Council on 27–28 June."

"The new Commission must be able to start its work as soon as possible. This means the European Council has to reach an agreement on the high-level appointments in June," Orpo says.

Slovakia will nominate Maroš Šefčovič as Slovakia's choice for European Commissioner, President Peter Pelligrini has announced.

Pelligrini, who is attending the EU summit while Prime Minister Robert Fico recovers from his assassination attempt, says the nomination is based on Šefčovič's "long-term excellent professional track record and invaluable experience."

"It is also an expression of continuation as well as an appreciation of his firm position within the Commission," Pellegrini wrote on social media.

If approved by the European Parliament, this will be the third consecutive term for Šefčovič, who is by now a well-known face in Brussels. He currently serves as the Commission's Executive Vice-President for the Green Deal, replacing Frans Timmermans. His portfolio also includes relations with the United Kingdom and Switzerland.

Hungry journalists who take shelter in the EU Council's canteen have two options to entertain themselves: either the empty halls of the Europa Building or the Belgium vs Slovakia match at the UEFA Euro 2024.

If you're cheering for the Red Devils, keep holding on: shortly after this picture was taken, the referee annulled a goal by Romelu Lukaku because he was offside.

French President Emmanuel Macron and outgoing Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo have signed a memorandum of understanding to boost industrial cooperation between their two countries in the field of land defence, according to a joint statement.

The deal was signed on the margins of the informal summit of EU leaders and "demonstrates the joint Franco-Belgian desire to work towards an ever-stronger Europe of defence," the statement reads.

Under the deal, the French company Arquus will be bought by Belgium's John Cockerill Defense with the participation in the latter's capital of the two governments.

Robert Golob, the prime minister of Slovenia, supports António Costa for the presidency of the European Council and isn't concerned about the pending criminal case against him.

Golob says he spoke with Costa "a couple of days ago" and expressed his support for his candidacy. "I just support him because he has lots of experience, lots of wisdom, as well, so yeah," he told reporters, switching to English.

Regarding the criminal case, which involves corruption in public procurement, Golob says he received "clarifications" from the Portuguese government and is convinced this is not an obstacle for Costa. But other leaders, like Poland's Donald Tuks, aren't completely convinced.

"If Donald Tusk wants to hear more, tonight is the perfect time for that," Golob said.

Speaking upon arrival, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz - who is one of the main negotiators in the top jobs race on behalf of the European socialists - warned against a Commission president elected with the support of hard-right forces.

Ursula von der Leyen repeatedly suggested on the campaign trail that she would be willing to collaborate with factions of the far-right European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) in the European Parliament during a possible second term.

But it has prompted backlash from centrists and left-leaning forces.

"There must be no support in Parliament for a Commission presidency that is based on right-wing and right-wing populist parties," Scholz said.

There isn't an EU summit without a touch of drama. As leaders descend on Brussels to discuss top jobs, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer has something else in mind: his Climate Minister.

Nehammer, a conservative, is furious after Leonore Gewessler, a Green politician, voted in favour of the Nature Restoration Law. Her move on Monday morning unblocked the file and allowed the law to be finally approved. But the Chancellor claims that Gewessler broke ranks and made a decision that had not been agreed upon by the ruling coalition.

"We have all witnessed a minister of the Republic breaking the law. She has violated the Constitution and (this) will be punished accordingly. But she has not only broken the law domestically through her conduct, she has also taken a vote within the Council of the EU that she should not have taken," Nehammer said in a press conference ahead of the summit.

"If an ideology is placed above the Constitution, above everything that unites us for democratic coexistence in Austria, then that means chaos."

But Nehammer fell short of calling for snap elections and will let Austrians go to the polls on 29 September, as originally scheduled.

Gewessler has already fought back. In a scathing letter, the climate minister says the fact there isn't consensus in the coalition doesn't necessarily determine how a minister should vote in the EU Council. "We regret that you have become involved in Austrian domestic political disputes," she told the Belgian presidency.

Nature restoration bill unleashes havoc in Austrian coalition

Vote cast by Green climate minister Leonor Gewessler triggered turmoil within the federal government, with Chancellor Karl Nehammer pushing a lawsuit against t…

"We need a quick decision [on the top jobs] because of what's going on in this world," Denmark's PM, Mette Frederiksen, said upon arriving at the informal EU summit in Brussels, stressing Europe's need for a strong leadership.

Frederiksen said it's a bit early to talk about concrete names but admitted von der Leyen has done a "great job" during the past mandate.

The Danish leader has been among the rumoured potential candidates for the European Council post, but she has denied that her name is in the mix: "I am not a candidate," Frederiksen said. 

Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montegero has said he is "confident" EU leaders will back the candidacy of António Costa for the European Council presidency if he is nominated by socialist leaders.

Asked whether the ongoing corruption probe involving Costa could be a stumbling block, Montenegro said: "From our point of view, there are no reservations or doubts."

He added that there is "great confluence" between the positions of his own Social Democratic Party and those of Costa's Socialist Party, particularly when it comes to European integration.

Montenegro became prime minister in April after his centre-right party narrowly won snap elections abruptly called by António Costa back in November in the wake of a sprawling corruption scandal.

Montenegro's backing is considered pivotal in convincing fellow EU leaders that Costa has the credibility to take on the Council reins. While Costa continues to be under investigation in the probe into corruption involving lithium and green hydrogen projects, he is not officially a suspect.

That is what the current President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, replied to journalists when asked about the support of the Council for her re-election, contradicting Irish PM, Simon Harris. The deadline to submit candidacies was today, and she expressed her interest.

Metsola will not take part in further negotiations but is present to defend the European Parliament's viewpoints in the drafting of the strategic agenda.

When questioned about the certainty of the European Parliament electing a new President of the Commission in the plenary session, she indicated that nothing is certain but that "the Parliament is ready for everything."

Dutch leader Mark Rutte has noted an “emerging consensus” towards awarding Germany’s Ursula von der Leyen a second term at the European Commission, as he enters a summit designed to nail down EU top jobs.

The outgoing Prime Minister told reporters he was “happy with the emerging consensus” and “positive” about von der Leyen, and that he doesn't expect the new coalition government in The Hague, expected to be sworn in imminently, to take a different view.

That all sounds pretty promising for von der Leyen, but other pieces of the jigsaw need to fit too, including agreeing to Portugal’s Antonio Costa to chair future EU summits, and Estonia’s Kaja Kallas as EU foreign policy chief. 

Rutte is himself caught up in that whirlwind, as he's hoping to be named the next Secretary General of NATO, for which he still needs support from Romania, Slovakia and Hungary.

The EU puzzle will be discussed over dinner shortly – and Rutte expressed his “hope it will be short”, to allow French President Emmanuel Macron to watch the France-Austria football match at 21.00 CET.

Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris stated in his doorstep comments that today's meeting was primarily for "taking stock of the results of the European elections."

"No decisions will be made tonight. The decisions will be taken at the end of the month during the formal Council," he said, adding with a smile: "I hope."

Harris, a member of the centre-right Fine Gael party, expressed his support for Ursula von der Leyen's re-election as European Commission President.

Unexpectedly, Harris mentioned that "four key positions will be discussed tonight," including the presidency of the European Parliament. However, this specific topic is not on today's agenda and is typically within the exclusive jurisdiction of the European Parliament itself.

"We need to be very careful with who we will represent the EU and the Commission at the international level," Peter Pellegrini, president of the Republic of Slovakia, told journalists in Brussels, stressing the importance of having someone who can calm the current geopolitical situation.

Pellegrini did not want to publicly endorse any names, but he will address its counterparts on the geographical balance of the high-level EU jobs.

"For us, it's also crucial to understand in this whole package how Eastern and Central Europe will be represented, because they have been underrepresented in the last years," he added.

Charles Michel, the president of the European Council, and Giorgia Meloni, the prime minister of Italy, held a bilateral meeting ahead of the informal summit in Brussels.

Meloni, whose hard-right Brothers of Italy (FdI) party grabbed extra seats in the elections, has fashioned herself as an influential power broker and her votes could prove crucial to seal the deal on the top jobs. Meloni's political family is not expected to be given any of the three positions up for grabs, so she might instead push to secure a high-profile portfolio in the next European Commission.

The official agenda of tonight's dinner is set to focus on three top jobs:

• Presidency of the European Commission
• Presidency of the European Council
• High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

So what about the presidency of the European Parliament? Strictly speaking, this is not for EU leaders to thrash out and assign. The Parliament's presidency is supposed to be the free decision of, you guessed it, the 720 Members of the European Parliament. It would therefore be an overreach for the leaders to impose a name on lawmakers and ask them to comply.

However, because of its high profile, the Parliament's presidency is inevitably part of the horse-trading game around the top jobs. This means the candidate's political affiliation, geographic origin and gender are considered as part of the overall equation.

Roberta Metsola, the incumbent, is well placed for a second term at the top of the Parliament. She comes from Malta and is affiliated with the European People's Party (EPP), which came first in the elections.

According to Italy's Forza Italia (EPP) leader Antonio Tajani, there are some doubts on the choice of Portuguese Antonio Costa as European Council president, reports Gerardo Fortuna.

"We will see how it will turn out. Some [in the EPP] fear that his stance on Ukraine is not firm enough," he said.

A soft veto on Costa could be also seen as part of EPP negotiating positions to ensure a full mandate to their candidate for the Parliament's presidency, Roberta Metsola, who's supposed to stay in charge for a two-and-a-half year stint.

Tajani also said that von der Leyen should leave the door ajar on the ECR group as "a three-way majority in Parliament" would be risky and the EPP can't "make concessions to the Greens as they have an ideological and unpragmatic position on the fight against climate change."

On Kaja Kallas as High Representative, there's a backing from the EPP as well, but "she has to take into account the problems in the East but also in the South," citing Ukraine and the Middle East.

On portfolios in the next EU Executive, "Italy must have a Commission vice-presidency and a portfolio of great importance, as we have an important role to play here," the former Commission vice-president concluded.

We're now hearing more from Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, as he's about to arrive at the informal summit in Brussels.

"Poland wants a Europe that is decisive and strong in matters of security, migration, rule of law and defence. Ready to finance these needs," Tusk wrote on his social media account. "This is what our voters want. These are my priorities in the negotiations that are just starting."

A former president of the European Council, Tusk took office in December 2023 with a promise to reset relations between Warsaw and Brussels, which had severely deteriorated under the hard-right government of Law and Justice (PiS). A few months after his arrival, he secured an important win when the European Commission unblocked €137 billion in cohesion and recovery funds that had been frozen over rule-of-law concerns.

"We need swift action on EU leadership roles with balance in geography, gender and politics," Latvia's PM Evika Siliņa posted on her X account (formerly Twitter) after a meeting with von der Leyen on the outcome of the EU elections and the priorities for the next five years.

Siliņa also noted her country's key concerns: security, defence, support for Ukraine and competitiveness.

"Full support for her [von der Leyen's] second term as Commission's President," the Latvian added.

However, none of them addressed to the press.

Giorgia Meloni, Prime Minister of Italy (ECR) arrived first.



Followed by Kaja Kallas, Prime Minister of Estonia (Renew).



And a Charles Michel, president of the European Council (Renew), looking in a hurry.

Stay tuned for the others upcoming arrivals!

The political agreement on the appointment of the next European Council president seems like a done deal, according to several sources, including EU diplomats.

Former Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa will likely get the job for two and a half years, which could only be renewed once - although not everyone is on board for Costa's appointment due to the ongoing investigation that led him to step down as PM last year.

In November 2023, a new inquiry was launched into alleged corruption in Portugal over some energy contracts. After eight years leading the southern country, Costa decided to resign, claiming that the investigation was incompatible with remaining in office. 

Since then, Costa has denied any wrongdoing and has not been formally charged with a crime - but the investigation is still ongoing and details are classified. 

Nevertheless, the initial support of the Portuguese government, now led by the centre-right coalition (AD/EPP), played a key role in persuading more EPP members to support Costa's appointment. 

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has resoundingly backed Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas for High Representative.

"Kallas understands the Ukrainian and Russian realities very well, and also represents the stance that Poland would take," Tusk said, according to a quote provided by the Chancellery.

Tusk also supports Ursula von der Leyen for a second term at the top of the European Commission, although this is less surprising: the two hail from the centre-right European People's Party (EPP).

"I am very satisfied with the current cooperation with the President of the European Commission, as she fully understands the fundamental issues for Poland," Tusk said.

Don't expect Ursula von der Leyen for dinner. She'll eat by herself.

The president of the European Commission, who is expected to be re-appointed by leaders, will recuse herself once the conversation on top jobs begins later today. The incumbent will attend an exchange of views with European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, which traditionally kicks off every summit, and will stay for a discussion on the bloc's strategic agenda, an in-the-works declaration of the political priorities for the next five years.

After that, she will leave the room.

"This will be followed by a dinner, which will be leaders' only (where) the topic of discussion will be top jobs in the European Union and, there, the President will not be present. It's leaders only," a Commission spokesperson said on Friday.

Von der Leyen to recuse herself as leaders discuss EU top jobs

Following the elections to the European Parliament, the 27 leaders are set to haggle over the bloc’s political leadership for the next five years. #EuropeNews

"The election result is clear, we have to move immediately and I hope by July we will be done with everything," said Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulídes of today's meeting when arriving at the informal gathering of the European People's Party. The European Parliament will meet for its first plenary in July and could then approve appointments agreed by the Council, if they come to an agreement before then.

Christodoulides was clear on the choice for the helm of the EU executive. "The name of the President is clear. Ms. Ursula von der Leyen should take on a second term as President of the European Commission."

With Estonian prime minister Kaja Kallas emerging as the favourite to be the next High Representative for Foreign Affairs, a senior EU diplomat has said that she is a "pragmatic politician" who will "know how to balance the current strong position on Ukraine with a focus also on other regions of EU interest, such as the Middle East and Africa."

Kallas is considered one of the bloc's staunchest critics of Russia, and has boosted the international stature of her small Baltic nation by spearheading efforts to punish Russia with sanctions, send military support to Ukraine, and bolster the EU’s own defence capacities. 

But she has been less vocal on other priority world regions, including the Middle East.

With the role requiring the ability to broker unanimous foreign policy decisions amongst the bloc's 27 foreign ministers, the next High Representative will have the tough task of navigating the deep divisions that have emerged between member states' positions on the war in Gaza.

Ahead of the leaders' dinner, Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni met with Polish ally Mateusz Morawiecki, leader of conservative PiS party, and then with Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Euronews' Gerardo Fortuna writes.

The meeting with the Hungarian counterpart at the Amigo hotel in Brussels lasted an hour and is also interesting in the context of the ongoing negotiations of Orbán's party Fidesz to find a parliamentary group as Meloni is also the president of the European Conservatives and Reformists.

"The meeting went well, it always goes well with Italy," he told reporters after the meeting, adding that the situation around the EU top jobs package is still 'fluid'. "There is a dinner this evening, we will know after the dinner," he said.

Meloni arrives at this informal summit with mixed feelings: on one side, she's considered among the winners of the EU elections, on the other she seems to be losing the kingmaking leverage she initially claimed as the current agreement on the EU power-sharing was brokered - without her - by Macron and Scholz at the G7, which she hosted.

As leaders gather in Brussels to mull future strategy and top jobs, another issue might be preoccupying Austria's People's Party (ÖVP) Chancellor Karl Nehammer.

The decision by his coalition's Green environment minister Leonore Gewessler today to adopt the EU Nature Restoration Law has caused a stink in Vienna, where Gewessler is seen as going rogue. Der Kurier has reported that Nehammer intends to begin an "action for annulment" of the decision before the European Court of Justice (ECJ) and that Nehammer will make a statement in Brussels this afternoon.

"There is a suspicion that Leonore Gewessler is acting unlawfully and knowingly against the clear guidelines of the Constitutional Service and against the constitution with her approval of the [NRL] - this constitutes abuse of office," ÖVP Secretary General Christian Stocker is cited as saying in the article.

The spat has put Austria's governing coalition under severe strain. The Alpine state is heading for elections in September this year.

Koalitionskrise: Nehammer-Statement um 16:30 Uhr aus Brüssel

Die Zustimmung Leonore Gewesslers zum Renaturierungsgesetz sorgt für eine veritable Regierungskrise. Die ÖVP hat Anzeige erstattet und will den EuGH anrufen.

The last time EU leaders divvied up the top jobs, the result had an unmistakable pattern: Ursula von der Leyen (Germany), Charles Michel (Belgium) and Josep Borrell (Spain) all hailed from countries traditionally considered Western European, as opposed to Eastern European nations formerly behind the Iron Curtain. In fact, nobody from that region got a promotion in 2019.

The East-West divide has been a long-standing concern in the bloc and has often caused tensions, as Eastern leaders complained that their views were ignored due to their smaller demographic and economic size. But Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and its consequent geopolitical shifts, have turned the tables and thrust Eastern viewpoints to the fore. Concerns voiced by Poland and the Baltics for years about the Kremlin's expansionism were validated by the crude reality of war. Suddenly, Western leaders like France's Emmanuel Macron and Germany's Olaf Scholz paid closer attention to what their Eastern counterparts had to say.

This means that, this time around, the top jobs deal will not look like 2019. At least one position must go to an Eastern representative, diplomats say. The criterion heavily favours the ambitions of Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, a contender to be the next High Representative. Her hard-line stance on Russia was initially seen as a disadvantage but these reservations have gradually subsided, making her the frontrunner.

Kallas also benefits from the association with the liberal family of Renew Europe, which, according to the usual horse trading, should get one of the three top jobs.

"It's not my job to convince [Giorgia] Meloni," Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk told journalists in Brussels as he entered an EPP meeting ahead of Monday's Council informal discussions. 

Tusk assured that he sees sufficient support in the Parliament from centrist parties such as his own EPP, the Socialists and Democrats (S&D), the liberals and some smaller groups. 

"My feeling is that it's more than enough to arrange the whole new landscape, including the president of the Commission," the Polish continued.

Poland's prime minister also seems positive about the appointment of Estonian leader Kaja Kallas as the next High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, as our colleague Maria Psara reports from the scene. 

The global crises simultaneously impacting the EU at the moment - few with obvious solutions - are expected to help speed up the debate on top jobs. Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the Israel-Hamas war, trade frictions with China, electoral interference, cyberattacks, acts of sabotage, a troubling rise in political violence, the potential imminent re-election of Donald Trump as US president later this year, all make for a daunting landscape and are focusing minds in Brussels.

Just this morning, China announced an "anti-dumping investigation" into EU pork products, a move seen as a prelude to retaliation for the upcoming EU tariffs on China-made electric cars.

Diplomats suggest that having EU leaders spend several days (as they did in 2019) haggling over well-paid jobs while wars are raging on would be a bad look and make them appear out of touch.

This grim backdrop, coupled with a noticeable lack of credible alternatives for the frontrunners, looks poised to make things easier for everybody around the table.

China probes EU pork products in prelude to retaliation for EV tariffs

The European Commission is expected to increase tariffs on China-made electric vehicles as soon as 5 July. #EuropeNews

Wondering how much the top job holders will earn? Here's a breakdown of the basic gross salaries:

• European Commission President: Ursula von der Leyen's gross salary currently stands at approximately €26,971 per month.

• European Council President: Charles Michel's successor will likely earn the same amount as the Commission President (€26,971 per month.). If he clinches the role, that would mean a big pay rise for António Costa, who earned an estimated €8,296 as Portugal's prime minister, a post he held until April.

• High-Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy: Estimated at €24,994 per month, it could see Estonian Kaja Kallas triple her current salary as Estonian prime minister, estimated at €8,318 per month, if she bags the job.

The basic salary also comes with attractive benefits and allowances that could, in principle, double the payment reaching the office-holder's accounts each month, depending on whether they have a spouse or dependent children.

There's a lot of talk in Brussels about the composition of the next European Parliament but where do leaders who are going to decide on EU top jobs this evening sit on the political spectrum?

The centre-right European People's Party dominates the meeting with 11 leaders: Karl Nehammer (Austria), Andrej Plenković (Croatia), Petteri Orpo (Finland), Kyriakos Mitsotakis (Greece), Simon Harris (Ireland), Evika Siliņa (Latvia), Luc Frieden (Luxembourg), Donald Tusk (Poland), Luis Montenegro (Portugal), Klaus Iohannis (Romania), and Ulf Kristersson (Sweden).

They're followed by the liberals of Renew Europe with five leaders attending the dinner: Alexander De Croo (Belgium), Mark Rutte (the Netherlands), Kaja Kallas (Estonia), Emmanuel Macron (France) and Robert Golob (Slovenia).

European socialists will be represented by Mette Frederiksen (Denmark), Olaf Scholz (Germany), Robert Abela (Malta) and Pedro Sanchez (Spain), while conservatives are represented by Petr Fiala (Czechia) and Giorgia Meloni (Italy).

Non-affiliated leaders range from more right-wing Viktor Orbán (Hungary), Dimitar Glavchev (Bulgaria), and Nikos Christodoulides (Cyprus) to Robert Fico (Slovakia) whose party’s affiliation to the European socialists is currently suspended, to more independent figures like Gitanas Nausėda (Lithuania).

Current European Council President Charles Michel (Renew Europe) and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen (EPP) are also members of the European Council but have no vote on the tob jobs.

A European Commission spokesperson was confronted during a press briefing over allegations that the executive has delayed the unveiling of a report which condemns the erosion of press freedom in Meloni’s Italy, as first reported by Politico.

The annual report - which outlines the state of the rule of law across the EU's member states - was expected in early July but has been pushed back until the next executive has taken office.

It comes as von der Leyen is seeking to piece together majority support for her re-appointment as European Commission President, including the backing of Meloni and her Fratelli d'Italia lawmakers. Her overtures to Meloni and her hard-right party have enraged some of her traditional centrist allies.

"Once the file (the rule of law report) will be ready and the college considers that it is mature enough for adoption (...) it will be presented in the college (of commissioners), and it will then be discussed here and presented to you here in the press room," the Commission's chief spokesperson Eric Mamer assured.

"Everybody's entitled to their view as to what is driving the Commission's agenda or not, and I'm not going to comment on this," Mamer added. "We want the quality of the report to be impeccable. And it will therefore be presented when we consider that the report is fit for adoption."

But the move has been censured by MEPs, with Dutch liberal lawmaker Sophie in 't Veld accusing von der Leyen of "politicising the rule of law" and using as "enforcement as a commodity, to be dropped in exchange for jobs."

German MEP Daniel Freund took aim at von der Leyen's centre-right European People's Party (EPP), which has repeatedly named the respect for rule of law as one of its three key criteria for building bridges with other political groups.

In a letter in May to Věra Jourová, the EU commissioner in charge of rule of law, the International Federation of Journalists accused Meloni's government of "increasingly exerting its power" over Italy's national broadcaster RAI, adding that members of the government were "shutting down dissenting voices and hindering media independence."

To see how priorities may have shifted, check out this graph by Simone Tagliapietra, senior fellow at Brussels-based think tank Bruegel, comparing the current draft with the 2019 document. 

Strong. Secure. Prosperous. Competitive. That's the vision of Europe its leaders are drawing up for the next five-year mandate, according to a draft version of the strategic agenda dated 12 June and seen by Euronews. 

The EU has already taken some steps to strengthen the bloc's defence readiness and capabilities, including increased defence spending, the document notes, adding: "Going forward, we will invest more and better together". 

The other key priority of the draft document is to boost Europe's competitiveness and address citizens' economic concerns. 

"This requires a significant collective investment effort, mobilising both public and private resources, including through the European Investment Bank," the agenda states. 

The EU-27's roadmap also addresses enlargement, demographic challenges, respect for the rule of law and the green and digital transitions.

Stay tuned for all the latest on the agenda and the top jobs debate at the Council in Brussels ⬇️

Here's a look at today's packed agenda, as EU leaders gather for a crucial series of meetings and decisions:

• Party Delegations (Until 4:30 PM): Leaders will fine-tune their positions in their respective party delegations. Expect strategy sessions as they align their stances before the main discussions.
• Doorstep Interviews (4:00 PM - 5:00 PM): Get ready for some candid insights! Euronews will bring you the highlights from the leaders' public addresses as they arrive and share their thoughts.
• Bilateral Meetings: Individual leader-to-leader talks are on the schedule. A key meeting to watch is between French President Emmanuel Macron and Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, both from the centrist Renew Europe party.
• Roberta Metsola's Address: The President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, will share the Parliament's perspective on defining the EU's next strategic agenda. This will be a critical moment to understand the legislative body's stance.
• Strategic Agenda: In the presence of Ursula von der Leyen, EU leaders will set the objectives for the European Commission's upcoming mandate. This will shape the EU's direction for the next term.
• Dinner (6:00 PM): Ursula von der Leyen will step aside as leaders sit down for dinner and delve into the negotiations for the top jobs. This will be the moment for the big decisions.
• Post-Dinner Discussions: The conversations may extend late into the night. While the outcomes might seem predictable, surprises are always possible—be it unexpected names emerging or the usual suspects throwing a wrench in the works.
• Press Conference: The summit wraps up with a press conference where the leaders will announce their positions. Timing for this is still to be confirmed.

Don’t worry if this seems overwhelming. We’ll be your guide throughout the day, keeping you informed every step of the way!

The race is on to influence the EU's agenda for the next five years, but which country's political parties dominate the new European Parliament? Euronews' Jack Schickler reports today.

Germany remains the largest national delegation in the European People's Party (EPP), which won the EU elections, while Italy has overtaken Spain as the largest delegation in the Socialists and Democrats (S&D) group. 

Although the structure of the new European Parliament hasn't been finalised yet, it is becoming clear which delegations will dominate the major political groups.  

From the largest to the smallest groups, see Euronews' analysis of where all but a few dozen of the 720-strong cohort of MEPs are likely to end up. 

2 biggest EP groups

A Flourish data visualization by Jeremy Fleming-Jones

Our colleagues Jorge Liboreiro and Aida Sanchez Alonso investigated the frontrunners in the race for the top jobs and profiled the favourites.

• Ursula von der Leyen (EPP/Germany) for re-election as President of the European Commission
• Antonio Costa (S&D/Portugal), former Prime Minister for President of the European Council
• Kaja Kallas (Renew/Estonia) Prime Minister, for High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

Curious about their chances, the backing they have, and the obstacles they face? Check out the full story below to get the complete picture ⤵️

EU leaders meet to divvy up top jobs. These are the frontrunners

The tricky distribution of top jobs is the next chapter after the elections to the European Parliament. #EuropeNews

It's Paula Soler and Romane Armangau here, Euronews reporters bringing you the latest from behind the scenes on this important day as leaders congregate in Brussels for an informal European Council Summit. We’re here to keep you updated on the crucial discussions on the top jobs appointments happening today.

How will last week's elections shape the political balance at the helm of the EU? Will Ursula von der Leyen continue as President of the European Commission? Who will step into Josep Borrell's shoes as the new leader of external action? Who will replace Charles Michel as the head of the European Council?

These questions and many more will be answered right here, so stay tuned and don't miss a beat!