European Union leaders have broken a deadlock over the choice of candidates for the top posts, including two women, following three days of tough negotiations.
After three days of arduous negotiations, European Union leaders have broken a deadlock and nominated German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen to become the new president of the bloc's powerful executive arm, the European Commission.
She will take over from Jean-Claude Juncker for the next five years.
European Council president Donald Tusk said in a series of tweets on Tuesday that Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel would take over from him in the (northern) autumn.
Frenchwoman Christine Lagarde was proposed as president of the European Central Bank, while Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Borrell was nominated to become EU foreign policy chief, meaning he would be charged with supervising the Iran nuclear deal, among other duties.
Only Mr Michel can take up his post in November without other formalities. The others, notably Ms von der Leyen, must be endorsed by the European Parliament. The assembly sits in Strasbourg, France, on Wednesday to elect its own new president.
Christine Lagarde.
AAP Image/ AP Photo/Francois Mori
"It is important that we were able to decide with great unity today, and that is important because it's about our future ability to work." German Chancellor Angela Merkel told reporters after the nominations - decided away from the cameras and media in a long series of meetings - were made public.
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