Two days after the European Parliament elections, EU leaders meet in Brussels later today where they will mandate European Council president Donald Tusk to launch exploratory talks to fill top positions in the bloc.
 
Tusk is holding a series of separate meetings with EU leaders today to better prepare for the summit, which gets underway at 6 pm.
 
Meetings are scheduled with the Prime Minister of Estonia Juri Taras, Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron, the leaders of the Visegrad group (Czechia, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia) and British Prime Minister Theresa May.  He will also participate in a meeting of the EPP.
 
Tusk aims to present a series of proposals that can secure broad support at the regular summit of June 21.
 
The Socialist Group, the second biggest in the European Parliament, is also planning a meeting in Brussels today and they, as in the case of the EPP, are expected to reiterate their support for the lead candidate process (Spitzenkandidaten) and their candidates Martin Weber and Frans Timmermans.
 
The European Council has said it will not automatically selected one of the lead candidates, saying that it is up to the heads of state and government to select the president of the European Commission, taking into consideration the results of the EP elections.
 
This suggests that other names will be floated. As regards the head of the new president of the European Council, leaders are expected to pick either a current or former EU leader, with names that have been floated included those of the Prime Ministers of Ireland and Holland, the president of Lithuania and  of the German chancellor.
 
There are five top positions to fill – of the EU Commission, the Council, the ECB, the High Representative on Foreign Policy and the president of the European Parliament.
 
Tusk has already said he will attempt to ensure the geographic and political representation across the bloc that will take into consideration small/large countries, east/west, socialists, EPP and male and women candidates.
 
The selection can be made with reinforced majority, although efforts will be made for unanimity.