Herman Van Rompuy, the president of the European Council, is being urged to push the European Union’s national leaders to go beyond the nomination of Jean-Claude Juncker as president of the European Commission next week  and reach agreement on a handful of other appointments.

 

In turn, Angela Merkel, Germany’s chancellor, is coming under pressure over whether Martin Schulz, who is now leader of the centre-left members of the European Parliament, should become a member of the European Commission.

 

Agreement at the European Council (26-27 June) on a package of appointments and accompanying policies would pave the way for a ‘grand coalition’ between the centre-right and the centre-left that would secure Juncker’s confirmation by the next European Parliament when it votes on the Commission president on 15 July. It would also make it easier for some member states to decide whom to send to Brussels as replacements for European commissioners who are taking up seats in the European Parliament.

 

The choice of the high representative for foreign and security policy and Van Rompuy’s successor as president of the European Council have long been elements in the mix. Additionally, the future of Schulz – who is unlikely to be allocated one of those jobs – is growing in importance.

 

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