European Union policy must be decided before any appointments are made to the top jobs, Mark Rutte told a press conference in Sweden on Tuesday.

The prime minister is in Sweden for discussions with German chancellor Angela Merkel, UK prime minister David Cameron and Swedish prime minister Frederik Reinveldt.

Rutte was referring in his remark to the possible appointment of christian democrat and federalist Jean-Claude Juncker to the post of European Commission president.

Merkel is for the appointment but the other three leaders have their doubts that he is the right person following the growth in votes for anti-Europe parties at the European parliamentary elections last month.

The four are discussing reform of EU policy, cutting the huge number of rules and concentrating on job creation and economic growt