A summit of EU leaders to try and agree on the next president of the European Commission has been suspended.

A spokesperson for European Council President Donald Tusk says the meeting will reconvene at 11.00am on Tuesday.

Leaders have so-far failed to agree on a person to succeed Jean-Claude Juncker.

The gathering was also stopped late on Sunday - after a proposal to back the Socialist candidate Frans Timmermans was rejected by the European Parliament's largest grouping, the European People's Party (EPP).

The European Parliament has called for the top European Commission role to go to leader of the biggest European-level political group - which in this case would be Manfred Weber of the EPP.

Mr Weber has the backing of the German Chancellor Angela Merkel. However, French President Emanuel Macron is believed to favour Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier.

Other potential candidates include the current competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager from the EU's liberal bloc.

Some commentators have listed Leo Varadkar as a possible alternative EPP candidate - however, the Taoiseach responded by saying he is 'flattered' but already has a job.

Speaking on Sunday night, the president of the European Parliament Antonio Tajani said: "In the past when we were asked what we mean by lead candidate system - and the only precedent we have for that is the election of Jean-Claude Juncker - he was the lead candidate from the group that won the election in 2014, and was immediately recognised as the winner".

"So this is the only precedent we have for this procedure".

Process

While other key roles will also be filled over the coming months, the commission presidency is a key focus.

Any candidate needs an absolute majority in the parliament (half of the existing MEPs plus one, i.e. 376).

If the candidate does not obtain the required majority, the member states need to propose another candidate within a month's time.

Based on the results of the European elections in May - which saw over 200 million Europeans vote - the political groups in the European Parliament have been holding a strategic debate to prepare a mandate for the next European Commission.

The outcome of this will serve as a basis for the dialogue towards the European Council.

The agenda of the council could be consolidated to form a base for the renewed priorities of the European Commission.

In a statement at the end of May, the European Parliament's conference of presidents (EP President plus group leaders) committed to the "lead candidate process, so that the next Commission President has made her/his programme and personality known prior to the elections, and engaged in a European-wide campaign."

Taoiseach Varadkar and European Affairs Minister Helen McEntee have been in Brussels for the meeting.

Ahead of the gathering, the Government said: "A candidate for President of the Commission... must be proposed by a qualified majority in the European Council and then elected by an absolute majority in the European Parliament.

"There was no majority for any candidate at the last meeting on 20 June, and the council agreed to meet again today to resume the discussions.

"It was agreed that compromises will be needed in order to achieve the necessary gender, political, geographic and demographic balance.

"It is also important that suitable and qualified people fill those posts, who have an understanding of Ireland’s issues and concerns, including in relation to Brexit.

"It is essential that a compromise package be agreed that reflects the diversity of the EU and that can gain adequate support in the council and the parliament."