Europe has moved one step closer to appointing its next batch of commissioners, with Denmark's deputy prime minister being tipped by some as a likely successor to internal market commissioner Michel Barnier.

It was confirmed over the weekend that Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk will replace Herman van Rompuy as head of the EU Council, with Italy's finance minister Federica Mogherini succeeding the UK's Catherine Ashton as the EU's foreign policy chief.