Outgoing European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was nominated on Thursday by EU heads of state and government, meeting at a summit in Brussels, for a second five-year term at the head of the European executive, announced Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, negotiator on behalf of the EPP.
The German conservative (EPP) must still have this designation approved by the European Parliament, by an absolute majority. A vote is possible as early as the mid-July session, according to European Parliament President Roberta Metsola.
The distribution of the highest functions (“top jobs”) of the EU, following the elections of June 9, also involved the designation of Charles Michel’s successor at the head of the European Council, the circle of heads of state and of government of the Union. Former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa, member of the socialist S&D group, was chosen. Charles Michel’s mandate ends on November 30.
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Finally, the Brussels summit was to designate the next head of European diplomacy, to succeed the Spanish socialist Josep Borrell. It is the Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas (Renew Europe, liberal) who was designated to the post of High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
This distribution confirms a preliminary agreement reached on Tuesday by six EU heads of state and government representing the EPP, S&D and Renew, the three European political families called upon to support the Von der Leyen II Commission. This choice was contested by two far-right leaders, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and her Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orban, but the latter had no right of veto.
