Divisions on show as EU leaders try to end top jobs impasseEuropean Central Bank President Mario Draghi and France's President Emmanuel Macron (R) speaking before a meetingBRUSSELS - EU leaders clashed Tuesday as they arrived for a third straight day of talks aimed at filling the bloc's top jobs, with deep divisions threatening hopes of a swift decision. Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis slammed Timmermans as "absolutely unacceptable" to a group of Eastern European countries, setting the stage for more tough wrangling behind closed doors. The 24-hour break in negotiations was filled with a blizzard of phone calls and text messages, according to Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, as leaders sought to overcome divisions while protecting their own interests. A liberal candidate would succeed Donald Tusk as president of the European Council of national leaders. The German daily Die Welt said European Council President Donald Tusk, who convened the summit, also proposed von der Leyen, an EPP member.

Source: Bangkok Post July 02, 2019 12:45 UTC