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What can we expect from tonight's #EUCO? Thread based on chats. One senior official notes: "Tonight is not about selecting people - that's for a more delicate phase of bilateral negotiations in the coming months. That's not the ambition for tonight"
Task of @eucopresident tonight - regardless of what's said publicly - is to see how Spitzenkandidat can be killed. "Because as long as there's an existential question over whether Spitz survives, it makes it harder to move serious negotiations over possible names forward"
Many (incl in Berlin) argue fragmented EP results mean decision will take time. Officials in Bxl disagree "Real problem is not EP - a majority can be found with 3 or 4 parties. Real problem is Merkel. She doesn't know what to do with Weber. When to tell him and what to tell him"
This not least as @akk (party leader) has come out so explicitly in support of Weber and the process
But the cold, hard reality is that none of the leaders really like Spitzenkandidat as it gives the EP power that leaders don't control. EP statement is therefore helpful: it's being seen as as unsuccessful attempt to preempt #EUCO as liberals - Macron's camp - didn't sign up
So @eucopresident likely to come out & say more consultations, & time necessary. This isn't to give EP more time. It's to give Merkel more time to figure out what to do. The ideal outcome for Tusk is one where "he could work on the basis of a broader approach."
This would already be a win for #EUCO - & allow them to open up the search/roster of candidates a bit. Based on sense in Bxl & EU capitals tonight, do think @ManfredWeber & @MichelBarnier stars have fallen; @vestager rising ENDS
