Four would-be presidents of the European Union's executive arm clashed in the first televised debate of its kind, each making a direct pitch for the support of young European voters.

Ska Keller of Germany from Europe's Green parties asked the audience "do you want to have more of the old politics for the European Union or do you want fresh ideas?"

The debate, held in the Dutch city of Maastricht, brought together four of the five candidates vying to become European Commission president following May's 22-25 European Parliament election. For the first time, election returns are supposed to be considered when the EU's 28 member states fill the position.

Also participating were European Parliament president Martin Schulz, former Belgian prime minister Guy Verhofstadt and former Luxembourg prime minister Jean-Claude Juncker.

AP