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French President Emmanuel Macron on his arrival at the European Council on 17 October in Brussels. Julien Warnard / Pool via REUTERS

The European Council opened in Brussels on Thursday. Satisfied after the conclusion of a new Brexit deal, EU leaders remain cautious in the expectation of a green light from the UK Parliament. On the sidelines of these discussions, Emmanuel Macron seeks to regain control after the snub that the MEPs inflicted on him by rejecting his candidate for the European Commission, Sylvie Goulard.

With our special correspondent in Brussels , Anthony Lattier

This is his main concern now that an agreement has been reached on Brexit. Emmanuel Macron seeks to secure political support before advancing the name of a new candidate. A rejected candidate and still no name to replace her, a week after his disappointment on the European scene. Emmanuel Macron continues the suspense: " France will obviously propose its commissioner, but I think it is important as I said, that there are also all the conditions that are ready here. "

Here in Brussels, where the French president wants to make sure MEPs will accept his new candidate. And for that, he seeks to "secure" as the Elysee says a stable majority in the European Parliament.

The majority from the last European is indeed fragile, it has divided on the case Goulard. Emmanuel Macron called the members of his centrist family to reach out to his opponents.

In the margins of the Council, the President himself will discuss bilaterally with his counterparts from other political camps. With the German Angela Merkel on the right side, or with the Portuguese Antonio Costa on the side of the Social Democrats. It's about consolidating his alliances. Clearly, after the rejection of Sylvie Goulard, Emmanuel Macron seeks at all costs to wipe a second snub when he will present a new candidate.