EU leaders participated yesterday at an Informal Meeting in Brussels to discuss the outcome of the 2014 European elections and the process leading to the European Council proposing a candidate for the future Presidency of the European Commission. It is noted that EU heads of state will officially nominate their candidate for the Commission in a formal European Council on 26-27 June.

This nominee needs to pass a simple majority vote in Parliament and EU leaders "must take into account" the result of the European Parliament elections, according to the Lisbon Treaty (Article 17.7).

Prime Minister Antonis Samaras attended the meeting and made the following statement: "(…) in order to reform Europe more effectively, we need more competitiveness, job creation - which is the number one problem - and of course solidarity among all our members. And therefore, I am happy that the EPP has won the elections and will lead this procedure for the next five years. It is going to constructively work towards that goal. And the goal – in one word – is called: Growth. Growth orientation."