The European Parliament on Wednesday rejected proposals backed by French President Emmanuel Macron for the introduction of some pan-EU lawmakers after Brexit.

MEPs approved an overall package of reforms including a system giving the largest group in parliament the right to choose a successor to European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker.

But they voted against a plan for so-called "transnational lists" -- which would allow 30 of the 73 seats vacated by Britain to be elected on pan-European tickets, instead of by standing in individual member states.

Macron, the energetic young French leader, had strongly backed the idea as part of his ambition for a sweeping reboot of the European Union once Britain leaves in March 2019.

He also reportedly had wanted to launch his Republic on the Move party -- the centrist, pro-EU movement that shook up French politics as Macron rocketed to the French presidency last year -- on a European level ahead of next year's EU elections.

Macron's office said it regretted the European Parliament's decision but said that "France will continue to defend this idea" in the future.

He won support from Luxembourg's Prime Minister Xavier Bettel, who questioned why national leaders would now back the system for picking a new EU commission chief -- called Spitzenkandidat, or leading candidate in German.

"Why should we have Spitzenkandidaten if we have no transnational list for elections?!" he said in a personally signed tweet.

- 'Weep not!' -

Many European leaders had feared the idea would be hijacked by anti-EU candidates, for example France's Marine Le Pen or Greek former finance minister Yanis Varoufakis.

Varoufakis, the leftist who led a brief but fiery resistance against the eurozone in bailout talks in 2015, said Wednesday's decision was a "major own goal, but weep not!", as he was coordinating a list of candidates in several countries to join forces.

The next European elections will take place in May 2019, two months after Britain leaves the EU.

The European Parliament warned on Wednesday that it would vote against any candidate to replace Juncker who was not chosen by the assembly's biggest political bloc.

"Parliament is ready to reject any contender for EU Commission president who is not nominated as a 'lead candidate' ahead of the 2019 EU elections," it said in a statement after backing the plan by 457 votes to 200 against, with 20 abstentions.

The system -- widely known as "Spitzenkandidat" or lead candidate -- was used to pick Juncker in 2014 and MEPs say it makes the choice more democratic.

But it is opposed by many national leaders who view it as a backroom stitch-up that freezes out the governments of EU member states.

Macron to make US state visit in April
Paris (AFP) Feb 7, 2018 - French President Emmanuel Macron will head to the United States in April for the first state visit announced by Donald Trump's White House, officials said Wednesday.

Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told BFM television that the visit would take place in April, with diplomatic sources telling AFP that Macron would leave around April 24.

The two leaders, who have met several times, have good relations despite fundamental disagreements on such issues as climate change.

Macron hosted Trump in Paris with great pomp in July for the Bastille Day national holiday -- when the US leader was impressed by the huge traditional military parade on the Champs-Elysees.

On Tuesday, the White House said Trump had asked for a similar large-scale military parade in an unconventional move that would showcase American muscle and underscore his role as commander-in-chief.

In Paris, Trump had marvelled at the French Republican Guard on horseback and jets flying overhead, with Macron arriving in an open-topped camouflaged military jeep.

Months after that meeting, Trump publicly remarked: "So we're actually thinking about Fourth of July, Pennsylvania Avenue, having a really great parade to show our military strength."

Even before becoming president, aides reported that Trump had considered a military parade to mark his inauguration, but the idea was eventually scrapped.

Macron, who deplored Trump's announced intent to pull out of the 2015 Paris climate accord on curbing global warming emissions, has openly expressed hope that his "friend" will change his mind.

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