EU leaders move closer towards giving second term to Ursula von der Leyen

The European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen. Her European People’s party has the largest number of seats in the European parliament, improving her chances of getting a second term. Photograph: Olivier Hoslet/EPA

EU leaders are converging on a second term for Ursula von der Leyen as head of the European Commission but have failed to reach a quick agreement.

Meeting for the first time since elections shifted the European parliament to the right, with big gains for nationalist and far-right parties in France and Germany, EU leaders discussed how to fill the bloc’s top jobs on Monday.