European Union leaders lavished their Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier with praise on Sunday for securing a divorce agreement with Britain, strengthening the Frenchman’s hand should he decide to run for the bloc’s top job next year.
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – European Union leaders lavished their Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier with praise on Sunday for securing a divorce agreement with Britain, strengthening the Frenchman’s hand should he decide to run for the bloc’s top job next year.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskatie were among EU leaders meeting in Brussels to thank the 67-year-old.
In September, Barnier said he would not seek the nomination of the European Parliament’s biggest party, the center-right EPP, to become the new head of the European Commission after Jean-Claude Juncker leaves next year.
The EPP has since picked Manfred Weber, a German ally of Merkel, but many EU diplomats and officials believe Barnier is not out of the race.
“His Brexit job has allowed him to build his profile and credentials. Back then, the negotiations were still running and it was no time to jump ship.
