EU leaders suspend marathon talks to decide top jobs until Tuesday

European Union leaders have adjourned their marathon talks aimed at breaking a stalemate over filling the bloc's top jobs until Tuesday. It comes as leaders had an uninterrupted 18 hours of talks on Monday during which the bloc's political families vied for influence. A spokesman for European Council President Donald Tusk said the discussions will now be adjourned until Tuesday. On Monday officials claimed Dutch socialist Frans Timmermans was tipped to head the European Commission. Under an agreement that is still being finalised by the EU's 28 national leaders, centre-right Kristalina Georgieva, a Bulgarian member of the European People's Party, would become president of the European Council that represents member states in the EU hub Brussels, the sources said. Mr Timmermans' conservative rival German MEP Manfred Weber, who the EPP had wanted to lead the Commission but who faced strong resistance from France and Spain, looked set to head the European Parliament, the diplomats said, perhaps for just half of the usual five-year term. The discussions were still being concluded, the officials said. Last-minute changes were still possible, they said. Mr Weber's failure to command majority support in his bid is a victory for French President Emmanuel Macron, who had criticised the German EU politician's lack of executive experience. "We've got it. Timmermans goes to the Commission," one of the diplomats from a leading European power said. Leaders had hoped to swiftly agree on a replacement for Jean-Claude Juncker as EU chief executive that would then allow a deal on who should take over from Mario Draghi as European Central Bank president. But that decision will almost certainly be postponed. EU leaders negotiated non-stop overnight into Monday to fill the top Brussels jobs. France's President Emmanuel Macron and Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel joined their EU counterparts in Brussels after developing a plan on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan. Under the "Sushi deal", the 28 EU leaders would nominate Dutch social democrat Mr Timmermans as president of the European Commission, the bloc's executive arm, rather than Mr Weber. Mr Weber would instead be put forward for election as speaker of the European Parliament, while a liberal candidate would become president of the EU Council of national leaders. But, when Chancellor Merkel put this to fellow centre-right leaders in the European People's Party, several rebelled, and the summit was thrown into crisis as heads of government shuttled between side meetings late into Monday morning. A French source told AFP that the breakdown in communication between Chancellor Merkel and her fellow centre-right leaders came as a surprise. "This summit was very poorly prepared," said one European diplomat, annoyed by the lack of consultation before the marathon session. Officials said a new summit may be necessary to complete the deal, possibly on July 15. For a nominee to go forward, he or she must secure the backing of 21 of the 28 EU leaders, representing 65 per cent of the bloc's population. The 28 leaders are aiming to agree candidates for president of the European Commission, president of their own Council and a foreign policy chief. Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May is attending her last EU summit. A spokesman said she would play a "constructive role" and would not abstain from any vote.

EU leaders suspend marathon talks to decide top jobs until Tuesday

A stalemate over choosing candidates for the top jobs has been suspended until Tuesday