The Twenty-eight failed to find a common position on Thursday 20 June over a four-hour dinner on the distribution of senior European posts - presidencies of the European Commission, the European Council, the European Parliament, the ECB and the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy - to be filled by the autumn.
"There was no majority on any candidate", said European Council President Donald Tusk. When asked about possible advances to reduce options, he refused to speculate on a name or position. The President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, was pleased to note that it was difficult to replace him.
"We have not made much progress", admitted one European source, noting that the main players will meet again at the G20 summit in Osaka on 28 and 29 June. According to her, the Twenty-eight will not talk about appointments again on Friday.
The European Council's objective is now to reach a decision on a set of appointments that reflects the EU's diversity before the constituent session of the European Parliament on 2 July, at a new European summit on Sunday 30 June.
The European Council is aware that the political personality who will preside over the European Commission will need the support of a qualified super-majority of Member States (65% of the European population and 72% of the number of Member States, or 21 countries) and an absolute majority of MEPs (376 Members).
"We are fully aware that an absolute majority is required in the European Parliament. But the European Parliament did not put forward any names", noted a source from the Elysée, reiterating the French position in favour of parity between men and women in the distribution of posts. It is essential to find a solution together with the Parliament, Merkel said.
Both the Chancellor and the French President, Emmanuel Macron, noted that there was no majority in the European Council on top candidates ('Spitzenkandidaten'), such as Germany's Manfred Weber, the Dutch Frans Timmermans and even the Dane Margrethe Vestager.
Strategic agenda. At Twenty-seven, European leaders adopted their strategic agenda to guide the work of the European institutions for the next institutional cycle.
As anticipated by EUROPE (see EUROPE 12271/2, 12275/8), this agenda includes three areas of work: protecting of citizens and freedoms, a strong and dynamic economic base, a climate-neutral, green, fair and social Europe, and promoting European interests and values on the global stage.
In connection with the conclusions adopted on Thursday, the climate issue was discussed until the last minute. In the end, the Twenty-seven believe that "The EU can and must lead the way, by engaging in an in-depth transformation of its own economy and society to achieve climate neutrality". "This will have to be conducted in a way that takes account of national circumstances and is socially just", they add.
However, the strategic agenda does not include a reference to 2050 as the date for the EU to achieve climate neutrality, an objective now supported by 24 Member States (see EUROPE 12279/2).
In an attempt to influence the choice of the person who will preside over the European Commission, the European Parliament is developing its own strategic priorities for the next five years. This work, which should have been finalised for the summit, will not be finalised until Tuesday 25 June, according to a parliamentary source.
See the strategic agenda of the Twenty-seven: http://bit.ly/31LjdKN (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion with the editor)