Frans Timmermans

There is no other explanation as to why the Visegrad Four countries of Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic and Slovakia joined with Italy to pave the way for a German federalist to become president of the European Commission despite their past calls for an end to Germany's domination. All five nations are governed by anti-liberal, populist or far-right parties.

Above all, this 60-year-old woman, the mother of seven children, is being accused that she hadn't performed her job as Defence Minister well, but that the effects of her work is quite opposite, reports Index.hr.

The talks on the allocation of senior posts in the European Union are being renewed, writes NOVA TV. 

In two consecutive days, negotiations in Brussels failed. The 28 Heads of State and Government can not choose who will be at the head of the European Commission and with what posts those who compromise will be compensated.

"The chances for reaching agreement are rather slim", stated an unnamed European official.

At an extraordinary summit, European leaders could not agree on the distribution of top positions in the EU - President of the European Commission, the European Parliament, the European Council and the European Central Bank. Negotiations continue this morning.

Since the jailing of the former leader of the ruling Social Democrats, PSD, and de facto chief of government, Liviu Dragnea, for corruption on May 27, the government in Romania led by Viorica Dancila has been trying to rebrand itself and shed the damaging heritage that Dragnea left behind.

The President and Vice-President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker and Frans Timmermans, hailed the "European approach" of Prime Minister Viorica Dancila and the Romanian Government's support for the European project, on the occasion of their meeting on Tuesday in Brussels, informs the Executive's press office.

New Democracy leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis talks to European People's Party chief Pablo Casado and the EPP's candidate for the next European Commission president, Manfred Weber, at an EPP summit in Brussels on Tuesday.

On the eve of European elections, Kathimerini spoke with European officials vying for the top position in the European Commission. Frans Timmermans, the candidate for the Party of European Socialists (PES) and current vice president of the Commission, said Europe needs a "new contract" based on equality and fairness for its citizens.

Chairman of the ruling Social Democratic Party (PSD) Liviu Dragnea said on Thursday that if the College of Commissioners has unanimously voted on the letter whereby the European Commission warns Romania about the changes to the laws of justice, then European Commissioner Corina Cretu has voted against her country.