(Brussels) In the Brussels premises of the European Council, everyone is busy getting ready for the informal summit of Friday, February 23rd, when the heads of state and government of the European Union will manly talk about institutional matters. Attention will be mostly focussed on the future members of the European Parliament after the 2019 election and potential transnational rolls, and the way the EU assigns executive posts, including the so-called “Spitzenkandidaten”. “The heads of state and government – the press office announced – will also discuss the political priorities of the Multiannual Financial Framework after 2020, which is the EU’s long-term budget”. The EU Commission took position on such issues by offering a few factual directions. “The meeting is held as part of the Leaders’ Agenda”, launched by the president of the European Council, Donald Tusk. “Since discussions will be looking ahead, the meeting will be held in the EU-27 format”, that is, without the United Kingdom.