[...] As he left the summit Mr Hollande questioned the credibility of Ted Malloch, a candidate for US ambassador to the EU who has been heavily critical of the bloc. "When appointing an ambassador, [it's] better if he believes in the institution he is supposed to be working with," Mr Hollande said.

Mr Malloch, a businessman, has claimed he helped "bring down the Soviet Union" in a previous career and described the EU as "another union that needs a little taming". The main centre-right, socialist and liberal groups in the European Parliament have called on member states and the EU institutions to reject Mr Malloch's appointment if he is nominated by Mr Trump.