Thread by @Usherwood

The overnight #EUCO blockage on top jobs is informative for a number of reasons

1/

Most obviously it highlights how the EU is designed to defuse power. The EPP can't force a decision (even if it could agree), nor can Merkel, nor any one else: you have to have a pretty broad consensus

2/

Secondly, it's another nail in Merkel's coffin: her long goodbye was always going to be a stretch, but last night's pushback hasn't helped at all

3/

Thirdly, it's noteworthy that it was @MartinSchulz's gambit that made the running over the week, even if its hit the rocks. He may be out of the EP, but clearly a play to demonstrate his on-going value

4/

Fourth, if this morning doesn't produce a resolution, then we fall back into treaty provisions: EP will need to move on its President tomorrow, so that may well get disconnected from rest of package

5/

Given that EP groups still aren't settled (as ever), result of that set of votes can't be taken for granted. @ManfredWeber will have to choose between sticking w COM chances, or twisting to EP Presidency (as per Schulz's plan)

6/

And if you want a Brexit angle, then note that post-membership negotiations are going to be more like this, than Art.50 process: EU divided and uncertain on way forward, making progress harder

7/

In sum, service pretty much as normal

/end