EU Leaders Strike Deal on Top Jobs, Securing von der Leyen and Kallas in Key Positions
EU leaders reached a landmark agreement on Thursday, June 27, appointing Ursula von der Leyen as the head of the European Commission and nominating Estonia's Prime Minister Kaja Kallas for the top diplomatic post within the European Union. The late-night accord unveiled by EU officials marked the distribution of key institutional roles within the bloc for the upcoming five-year period, with former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa set to lead the European Council, which brings together member states. All three nominees are affiliated with the centrist alliance, reflecting the dominance of the centrist parties in the EU Parliament following the recent elections, despite the increased presence of far-right parties. Notably, Italy's Giorgia Meloni expressed public resistance to the agreement on the top EU jobs. Costa, who is 62 years old, is expected to succeed Council President Charles Michel later this year automatically; however, von der Leyen, aged 65, and Kallas, aged 47, will need to secure majority support in the European Parliament, starting with a vote scheduled for July to confirm the commission chief. If confirmed, von der Leyen will inherit a challenging set of tasks, ranging from the Russian threat to climate change and the growing influence of China. The final lineup of the EU leadership appeared to have little ambiguity, as a core group of leaders had already settled on a preliminary agreement on the trio of names in the days leading up to the announcement. The distribution of roles reflects a compromise between von der Leyen's centerright European People's Party, Costa's Socialists and Democrats, and Kallas' centrist Renew Europe. While the centrists appeared strong in their position, there was an emphasis on reaching a consensus rather than imposing a deal unilaterally. The deal particularly aimed to secure the support of Italy, and leaders took into consideration the concerns raised by Italy's Meloni, who criticized the decision-making process and advocated for greater representation for her party and country within the EU leadership. Despite opposition from Hungary's Viktor Orban, the agreement garnered the necessary support from 15 out of 27 leaders to move forward. With prominent figures like Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk emphasizing the importance of Italy's role in the EU, there was a concerted effort to address Italy's perspectives and interests in the decision-making. As the summit concluded, focus shifted towards addressing the concerns and priorities of member states, with von der Leyen signaling willingness to consider proposals related to migrant processing, particularly echoing Italy's practices. The negotiations highlighted the significance of accommodating various viewpoints and seeking consensus among member states to ensure effective governance within the European Union.
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