Issues such as the EU's post-Brexit budget and the selection of the new leader of the European Commission are currently at the forefront of the European Union's agenda.
EU President Donald Tusk will make suggestions on both at a summit in Brussels that will not produce formal decisions and that even officials admit will lack excitement.
But the issues still go to the heart of concerns about money and sovereignty and threaten to undermine the EU’s efforts to present a united front after the UK leaves next year.
Spitzenkandidat, an obscure German word meaning “lead candidate”, has become the most talked-about issue in the Brussels bubble. It refers to the process of picking the president of the European Commission.
The first time it was used was during the process that led to the choice of Jean-Claude Juncker in 2014. Under the system, the largest party in the European Parliament after elections nominated its candidate for the post. Then the European Council, comprised of national leaders, “takes into account” that nomination, while making its own pick for the post.
Parliament wants this to be repeated in 2019 but this time with a guarantee that its candidate will be chosen, saying the system is more democratic than having someone named by the leaders.
National leaders are broadly opposed to the idea, saying the Spitzenkandidat is a backroom stitch-up by groups of Brussels-based MEPs whom most voters have never heard of.
“There cannot be, and will not be, a guarantee that one of the lead candidates will be president of the commission,” a senior EU official said, adding however that leaders wanted to avoid any “deep conflict” with the parliament.
No formal decision will be taken yet. Key players are however lining up to replace Juncker, with EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier of France often mentioned, as well as Denmark’s Margrethe Vestager, the high-profile EU Competition Commissioner.
The EU 27 will also give their views on changes to the European Parliament after Brexit, particularly what to do with the 73 seats currently held by British MEPs.
Tusk is expected to recommend that leaders back reducing the size of the parliament to 705 from 751. Twenty-seven seats will be distributed to other countries while 46 will be held in reserve for new countries that might join the EU.
The European Parliament recently torpedoed a plan backed by French President Emmanuel Macron for the 2019 elections to feature some pan-EU MEPs, rather than each MEP being directly elected by constituencies in member states.
But Tusk wrote in his invitation letter to leaders: “This project is not without merit and is certainly worth discussing in view of the 2024 elections.”
Reports have suggested Macron wants to launch a European version of his centrist Republic on the Move party in the parliament.
Money is always a big issue after a divorce, and Brexit is no exception.
The EU 27 will be left with a hole in its annual budget of between 12 and 15 billion euros (RM58 billion to RM74 billion) by the departure of the UK, which is a net contributor, according to the European Commission.
“The EU budget has been usually deeply divisive. It will remain like that even without the UK around the table. Maybe less divisive, but still divisive,” the EU official said.
For the new six-year budget from 2020, the commission has proposed increases to member states’ contributions and cuts to what the EU doles out.
Agriculture funds and so-called “cohesion funds” for poorer regions are in the crosshairs as they together account for 70% of EU spending.
But the debate promises to be toxic, with several net contributor states such as the Netherlands, Austria, and Sweden refusing to pay more, and mainly Eastern European countries on the receiving end of cuts also likely to be up in arms.
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