Following the phone calls, a Downing Street spokesperson said:
The Prime Minister has made a number of planned calls to European leaders in recent days ahead of the informal European Council in Brussels tomorrow evening.
The PM has been making the point in these conversations that leaders should seize the opportunity of tomorrow’s dinner to heed the views expressed at the ballot box that the EU needs to change and to show it cannot be business as usual. The turnout and results in the EP elections have underlined the need for reform to ensure that the EU is doing more to deliver what voters care about: jobs, growth and a better future.
Fellow leaders have agreed that it is an important moment for the European Council to set out its view on the future of the EU and provide clear direction of what is expected from the next European Commission.
On the process for appointing the next President of the European Commission, the PM has agreed with the other leaders that tomorrow’s meeting is just the start of the process and there will need to be more consultation in the coming months. It is clear that other leaders share the PM’s view that the European Council has a clear mandate in the Treaty to nominate the next President of the European Commission and it is important to follow that procedure.
The phone calls have also covered Ukraine which will also be discussed at tomorrow’s meeting. The PM noted the successful conduct of the elections despite the exceptionally challenging circumstances and reiterated the need for the EU to continue to support the Ukrainian government as it embarks on the tough, but necessary reforms.
We expect the PM to speak to more European leaders tomorrow morning before travelling out to Brussels.