EU leaders try to win over Meloni amid row about top jobs – Europe live | Europe

A new poll by IFOP, published this afternoon, puts the far-right National Rally at 36% for Sunday’s first round of the election in France. It is followed by the left-wing New Popular Front at 29%.

Emmanuel Macron’s allies are at 21%, according to the poll.

With only days to go until the closely-watched election, representatives of three political groups – Gabriel Attal, Jordan Bardella and Olivier Faure – will debate this evening on France 2.

Meanwhile, EU leaders are meeting in Brussels, where the French election is not formally a matter for discussion but could end up having an impact on policymaking over the coming months.

Stay tuned for coverage of the debate later today.

The leader of the Socialists and Democrats group in the European parliament, Iratxe García, has said that “we call EU leaders to deliver and to nominate the President of the next European Commission.”

“The candidate has to show a clear commitment with our agenda and priorities: a social and climate genda, rule of law, defense and security, housing and workers’ rights,” she added, stressing that “our support is not a blank check.”

‘Sometimes the soup is not eaten at the same temperature that it is being served’, outgoing Belgian PM says

Jennifer Rankin

Belgium’s outgoing prime minister Alexander De Croo has dismissed criticism of a deal between Europe’s three pro-European political groups on the EU’s top jobs.

Arriving at the summit, De Croo, a liberal, who leads a seven-party coalition government in Belgium, said finding agreement between different political forces was “how democracy works”.

You have to look at what is a coalition of political groups that can work together… because what we need in the next five years is political stability and being able to act fast.

Democracy is not only about blocking, democracy is about who wants to work together and those three political groups are willing to work together for the benefit of all Europeans.

Asked about Giorgia Meloni’s angry speech to the Italian parliament on Wednesday, De Croo turned to a Dutch proverb. “Sometimes the soup is not eaten at the same temperature that it is being served,” he said. This “basically means yesterday was yesterday, let’s listen [to] what is being said around the table today”.

Petr Fiala, the Czech prime minister, has said that together with the German chancellor and Polish prime minister “we are calling on the Commission to speed up the launch of financial support for the countries with the largest numbers of Ukrainian refugees.”

‘No Europe without Italy’: EU leaders launch charm offensive to win over Meloni

Jennifer Rankin

Centre-right EU leaders arriving in Brussels have begun a charm offensive to appease Italy’s Eurosceptic prime minister Giorgia Meloni, who was excluded from a deal on the EU’s top jobs between pro-European parties.

Ahead of the summit EU leaders from six countries representing the three pro-European political groups agreed to nominate Ursula von der Leyen for a second term as European Commission president, and split two other key posts between the Socialists and centrist Renew group.

Polish prime minister Donald Tusk, a lead negotiator for the centre-right European People’s Party, said “no one respects the prime minister, Giorgia Meloni and Italy more than I do”.

He suggested her dissatisfaction was based on a misunderstanding, adding: “Sometimes we need specific political platforms to ease the process”.

And he said:

There is no Europe without Italy and there is no decision without Prime Minister Meloni.

A European Council decision on the appointment of the new European Commission president does not require unanimity, but it would be seen as a setback if a large, founding member state such as Italy opposed the proposal.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the Greek prime minister, and fellow EPP negotiator, struck a similar tone, saying he was “reasonably optimistic” of an agreement on the jobs during the ongoing European Council.

This proposal is a proposal that reflects the overwhelming majority of the council members.. It was never our intention neither to exclude anyone nor offend anyone.