About: top jobs
Europe agrees to put forward one candidate for IMF chair
EU finance ministers unanimously decided on Tuesday (9 July) to present one single candidate to succeed Christine Lagarde as Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund.
Finland softens opposition to eurozone budget as it takes over EU Presidency
On the eve of assuming the EU's rotating presidency, the new centre-left Prime Minister of Finland, Antti Rinne, accepted on Wednesday (26 June) the possibility of a “small” eurozone budget to support investments, as long as it remains part of the EU’s long-term spending plans.
Council of Europe assembly authorises Russia’s return
The Council of Europe's parliamentary assembly agreed Tuesday (25 June) to allow Russian representatives to return to the body, five years after it was stripped of its voting rights over the annexation of Crimea.
Macron: ‘No majority for Mr. Weber’ and other Spitzenkandidats
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday (21 June) the three so-called Spitzenkandidaten – or lead candidates – for the European Commission presidency had each failed to receive enough support among European Union leaders in Brussels.
How to pick the next saviour of the euro
EU leaders will try to pick the new European Central Bank president on Thursday evening (20 June), in times when further monetary flexibility is becoming more likely, but EU officials and diplomats have warned against politicising the election of Mario Draghi's successor.
EU leaders to aim for final climate deal ‘in early 2020’
Talks on a climate plan for 2050 should wrap up by the end of this year in view of final adoption in early 2020, according to the draft conclusions of an EU summit taking place next week in Brussels.
Isolated Italy excluded from EU top jobs race, faces pressure over debt
Italy risks a rude awakening in the race for top European Union jobs as it faces growing isolation after eurosceptic nationalists in its ruling coalition won big in last week's European Parliament elections.
Political novice tipped as next Lithuanian President
Lithuanians choose a new president on Sunday (26 May) in a tight runoff between two centre-right rivals, an ex-finance minister and a political newcomer, in a race dominated by concerns over economic inequality in the Baltic eurozone state.
Borissov: Horsetrading for the EU top jobs has started
In his usual straightforward manner, Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov has disclosed that French President Emmanuel Macron has consulted him this week to prepare the summit on 28 May when the future EU top jobs will be discussed for the first time.
The EU Game of Thrones explained
This week's European parliamentary elections will launch a scramble for the continent's top leadership jobs, but won't decide the winners. Here is a guide to the horsetrading.
EU leaders to kill plans for smaller Commission in June summit
EU leaders are expected to ditch the idea of having fewer Commissioners, recommended by the Treaty, in a June summit that could struggle to find consensus on the distribution of top posts given the “full agenda”, sources told EURACTIV.com
Weber seeks powers to stop Nord Stream 2
The lead candidate for Europe's conservative bloc in next month's EU elections has said he would try to stop the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline if he becomes European Commission president, according to an interview published Tuesday (23 April).
MEPs ask next Commission chief to oust Selmayr
After European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker ignored their previous calls, MEPs called on Tuesday (26 March) on the next Commission to review the controversial appointment of Martin Selmayr as secretary-general of the EU executive.
France targeting Commission presidency over top ECB job
France will push for the presidency of the European Commission rather than the European Central Bank when top EU jobs come up for negotiations later this year, three sources briefed on discussions over the matter said.
New Dutch populists surge in ‘Rutte referendum’
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte will lose his senate majority after upstart anti-EU populists surged in provincial elections just two days after a suspected terror attack in Utrecht.
Eurogroup kick off race for ECB chief economist, Ireland’s Lane puts name forward
Ireland presented Philip Lane’s candidacy as chief economist at the European Central Bank on Monday (21 January), as the Eurogroup opened calls for nominations in a relaxed first session of the year.
Praised over Brexit, Barnier in orbit of EU’s top job
European Union leaders lavished their Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier with praise on Sunday (25 November) for securing a divorce agreement with the United Kingdom, strengthening the Frenchman's hand should the stars align for him to run for Commission president.
Brexit draft deal brightens Barnier’s political prospects
The tentative Brexit deal grudgingly approved by the British cabinet on Wednesday (14 November) could yet fall apart, but for one man it is already a personal victory.
Merkel chooses Weber as candidate for EU top job
Angela Merkel has given her backing to fellow German conservative Manfred Weber's bid to front the centre-right's campaign in next year's European Parliament elections, several German newspapers reported on Thursday (30 August).
Merkel eyes German EU Commission chief: report
Chancellor Angela Merkel is focusing on securing the European Commission presidency for a German candidate, rather than backing Bundesbank chief Jens Weidmann to succeed Mario Draghi at the helm of the European Central Bank (ECB), Handelsblatt reported.
EPP gets another top job: Finland’s Itala to head OLAF
Finland’s Ville Itälä will be the new director-general of OLAF, the EU’s anti-fraud office. He comes from the Finnish Kokoomus party, affiliated with the centre-right European Peoples’ Party (EPP) and will move to Olaf from his current post with the European Court of Auditors.
Thorning-Schmidt makes Brussels appearance, promotes conservative social-democracy
Former Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt, who was also the leader of the Social Democrats in her country from 2005 to 2015, made an appearance in Brussels today (11 June) offering her views how the EU should better makes it case globally and improve internally.
Finns Stubb and Katainen leave door open to EU Commission top job
Former Finnish prime ministers Alexander Stubb and Jyrki Katainen left open the possibility on Saturday (9 June) that they would run to succeed Jean-Claude Juncker as the EU executive’s president next year.