This week, late night Council sets press pack a-jitter, Commission nominee doesn’t have Twitter, and Brexit MEPs seem a little bit bitter. This week we are supported by Animal Health EU.

The big week for EU top jobs got off to a shaky start on Sunday with a mammoth Council Summit that dragged on through the night into Monday.

Danny Kemp knew it didn’t bode well: “The EU’s leadership solution for the next five years looks like that terrible, deranged essay you wrote at university after a double all-nighter.”

Good luck Europe. The EU’s leadership solution for the next five years looks like that terrible, deranged essay you wrote at university after a double all-nighter https://t.co/B9mJ2au3ZP — Danny Kemp (@dannyctkemp) July 1, 2019

Euractiv’s Alex Brzozozski highlighted the biggest concern for the press pack: sleep! Or lack of it.

As bilaterals between @eucopresident and #EU leaders carry on, the crucial question press folks are asking themselves at #EUCO is: Will we be in need to use our special gear tonight or not? pic.twitter.com/XNoSzsTnDd — Alexandra Brzozowski (@alex_owski) July 1, 2019

Late Tuesday afternoon there was finally white smoke from the Council as it approved former Belgian PM Charles Michel as EU Council President and nominated

German Defence Minister Ursula Von Der Leyen for EU Commission President.

EU28: The EU Council nominates… Ursula Von Der Leyen (CDU-EPP) 🇩🇪 for EU Commission President Charles Michel (MR-RE) 🇧🇪 as EU Council President Josep Borrell (PSOE-S&D) 🇪🇸 as High Representative Christine Lagarde (LR-EPP) 🇫🇷 as ECB President#EUCO #EUTopJobs — Europe Elects (@EuropeElects) July 2, 2019

Cue everyone on Twitter scrambling to find her account… which didn’t exist!

Is @u_vonderleyen the real twitter account for Ursula Von der Leyen? Tell us @bmvonderleyen! — Adam Fleming (@adamfleming) July 3, 2019

Gerardo Fortuna felt leaders really should take into account the fact she doesn’t have a twitter account.

Dear #EU leaders, before appointing Ursula von der Leyen as EU Commission boss, could you take into account the fact she doesn't seem to have a twitter account? #EUCO — Gerardo Fortuna (@gerardofortuna) July 2, 2019

By Wednesday, that was rectified as she greeted Europe via the Brussels Bubble’s preferred medium!

Hallo Europa! Hello Europe! Salut l’Europe! 🇪🇺 — Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) July 3, 2019

Jack Parrock reckoned she’d had a rapid crash course in social media management and added: “She’s not going to know the snark that hits her.”

Crash course in social media management for the new commish President I reckon. She’s not going to know the snark that hits her. https://t.co/1CMXARbd74 — Jack Parrock (@jackeparrock) July 3, 2019

Outgoing Council President Donald Tusk said that it was the first time perfect gender balance had been achieved in the top positions.

Crash course in social media management for the new commish President I reckon. She’s not going to know the snark that hits her. https://t.co/1CMXARbd74 — Jack Parrock (@jackeparrock) July 3, 2019

And Competition Commissioner Margethe Vestager, herself also in the running, said she was happy to see the first woman nominated for Commission President.

Happy to see the first woman nominated for Commission President. This is great! #BalancedEurope

Looking forward to work with the @Europarl_EN! pic.twitter.com/8dhPvCZsB7 — Margrethe Vestager (@vestager) July 2, 2019

Though Berlaymonster quipped: “Vestager launches duopoly investigation against France and Germany over topjob collusion.”

EU'S VESTAGER LAUNCHES DUOPOLY INVESTIGATION AGAINST FRANCE & GERMANY OVER TOPJOB COLLUSION#fantasyheadlines — Berlaymonster (@Berlaymonster) July 3, 2019

Of course the big issue is that not one of the Spitzenkandidaten got a top job. DG Meme summed it up best:

But it’s not over until the fat lady sings, in this case, the European Parliament which has to approve – or not – the Council’s picks for the posts. MEPs are expected to vote in 2 weeks time.

In the meantime, Agata Gostynska pleaded “Can media please stop with this ‘unprecedented stalemate over top EU jobs’ nonsense? Wrangling has always been there and is one of the most interesting aspects of work of the EU institutions.

Can media stop please with this 'unprecedented stalemate over top EU jobs' nonsense? Wrangling over them has always been there. In fact, that's one of the most interesting aspects of work of the EU institutions experts. Do @NvOndarza @jaemmanouilidis @tineurope @simonjhix agree? — Agata Gostyńska (@AgataGostynska) July 3, 2019

Staying with the Parliament, the first plenary of the new session kicked off in Strasbourg.

As Jude Kirton-Darling arrived in a sweltering Strasbourg, she was glad her region still has a seat at the decision-making table despite Brexit rhetoric spiralling to extremes.

Have arrived in a sweltering Strasbourg for the first plenary of new parliament: as Tory Brexit rhetoric spirals to extremes – glad that my home region still has a seat at the decision-making table pic.twitter.com/tMkfPt99Ka — Jude Kirton-Darling MEP (@Jude_KD) July 1, 2019

One Brexiteer, British MEP David Bull, described his journey to Strasbourg as “insanity”: Eight plus hours, four trains, and a huge waste of taxpayers money he claimed.

The insanity of the journey to the EU Parliament in Strasbourg . Eight plus hours . Four trains and a huge waste of taxpayers money . We the ⁦@brexitparty_uk⁩ must deliver and get us out of the EU pic.twitter.com/shXQbNB1Pn — Dr David Bull MEP (@drdavidbull) July 1, 2019

But train expert account Seat 61 said it takes just 4 hours 54 from London to Strasbourg with one easy same-station change in Lille.

It takes just 4h54 London to Strasbourg with one easy same-station change in Lille, thanks to Europe ‘s growing high-speed rail network – bringing people together. https://t.co/iWRkxG2GuS pic.twitter.com/7UdKlusgu6 — The Man in Seat 61 (@seatsixtyone) July 1, 2019

Bull’s comments were widely ridiculed online with half the twittersphere pointing out that if you apply for a job in Strasbourg… it’s likely you will have to go to Strasbourg!

Bellend who took job in Strasbourg in "learns he has to travel to Strasbourg" shocker. More as the story develops. — James Felton (@JimMFelton) July 1, 2019

Mark Stone said: “Brexit Party MEP realises that being an MEP comes with responsibilities.”

Brexit Party MEP realises that being an MEP comes with responsibilities https://t.co/Vh4L3H5axB — Mark Stone (@Stone_SkyNews) July 1, 2019

And Otto English predicted: In next week’s episode David Bull goes to a supermarket and discovers food on the shelves.

In next week's episode David Bull goes to a supermarket and discovers food on the shelves — Otto English (@Otto_English) July 1, 2019

Bull’s fellow Brexit Party MEPs were not making friends either as they turned their backs on the European Anthem at the opening session of the Parliament.

Brexit Party MEPs turn their backs in European Anthem at opening session of European Parliament pic.twitter.com/M1J5rdzb8e — James Mates (@jamesmatesitv) July 2, 2019

Maybe they just don’t like Beethoven joked the German Foreign Office.

Others found the whole session terribly exhausting.

“Who said being an MEP wasn’t hard work?” asked Darren McCaffrey.

Who said being an MEP wasn’t hard work? 😉 pic.twitter.com/TQIrlZMl1C — Darren McCaffrey (@DarrenEuronews) July 3, 2019

But finally we had one conclusive outcome – David Sassoli was elected President of the European Parliament with 345 votes out of 667.

.@DavidSassoli was elected President of the European Parliament with 345 votes out of the 667 valid votes cast pic.twitter.com/PBbOtUOBPF — EP PressService (@EuroParlPress) July 3, 2019

This week we are supported by AnimalhealthEurope : To find out how the animal medicine industry is helping vets keep pets healthy follow the hashtag #MorethanMedicine.

https://twitter.com/animalhealthEU/status/1146331072390733824

Join us again next week for more wheeling and dealing, ducking and diving in the Brussels Bubble Twittersphere.