Germany and France dividing up top EU positions to tighten grip on bloc

New chiefs of the EU Commission, Council, Parliament, Foreign Office and European Central Bank are set to be assigned by 2019.

And reports in the German media suggest Chancellor Angela Merkel is pushing for current Bundesbank President Jens Weidmann become the next head of the central Bank.

Emmanuel Macron, meanwhile, wants a Frenchman to take over the European Commission.

According to Sueddeutsche Zeitung, the two nations are closely aligned in their aims, with both wanting a “strong personality” to take the reins.

Meanwhile, associates of the pair are said to be vying for power in a bid to secure the biggest jobs.

Mr Macron recently had a private conversation with IMF chief Christine Lagarde in Paris indicates she could also be primed for a top job, it is thought.

And Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier may also be in line for a promotion as the carve-up continues.

Meanwhile, Mrs Merkel continues to try to form a coalition, sparking speculation further EU posts could be used as bargaining chips alongside government positions.

The chancellor s trying to form a coalition with the FDP and Greens after her conservatives lost support to the far right in a federal election last month. 

But the three-way alliance – dubbed a Jamaica coalition – is untested at national level.

The Greens have been told by the FDP they must compromise on immigration if it is to go ahead.

Although the three parties found common ground in areas of social policy and digital infrastructure during talks on Monday, they remained far apart on issues of immigration, fiscal and climate policies that divided them last week.

European reform is another area of contention between the three party groups.

The FDP has welcomed French President Emmanuel Macron’s push for European integration and would like more security cooperation but is resisting closer budget and fiscal ties.

(Additional reporting by Monika Pallenberg)