EU leaders have not yet reached a decision on a second term for Ursula von der Leyen as president of the European Commission, European Council President Charles Michel announced early on Tuesday morning.
"The purpose today was not to make a decision," Michel told journalists after the EU leaders' dinner meeting, despite widespread expectations of a swift agreement. "This is planned for next week."
Rather, Michel said, the purpose of Monday's meeting was "to have an in-depth exchange of views." He said Monday's meeting was "a useful step to prepare the next European Council."
The political backing for von der Leyen was supposed to ends months of speculation over whom EU leaders might nominate for the bloc's top job following last week's European Parliament elections.