Ursula von der Leyen was to participate in the first part of the informal meeting.
Photo: Keystone/AP/GEERT VANDEN WIJNGAERT
European leaders on Monday evening increased their support for the reappointment of Ursula von der Leyen as head of the European Commission. They were gathered in Brussels for an informal summit devoted to the distribution of the highest posts in the EU.
This meeting is a first meeting for the heads of state and government of EU countries after the June 6-9 election which was marked by a surge in the far right in several countries, including France. and Germany. A new summit is planned for June 27 and 28 to ratify the choice of European leaders, but a consensus already seems to be emerging on the four main positions of the EU.
‘I am sure that we will be able to find an agreement as quickly as possible,’ declared German Chancellor Olaf Scholz upon his arrival. Like him, French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his desire to ‘move forward effectively’ during the G7 summit last week in Italy.
‘There seems to be a growing consensus’ on the Commission presidency in particular, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said. ‘It is clear’ that Mrs von der Leyen has ‘very good chances’, he said. Irish head of government Simon Harris echoed this: ‘I have not heard any other names suggested at this stage,’ he commented.
Present in the early evening
The President of the European Commission must participate at the start of the leaders’ discussions but disappear at dinner time, where the question of ‘top jobs’, including hers, will be discussed.
The 65-year-old German is well placed to succeed herself as candidate of the European People’s Party (EPP, right), the political family that came first in the elections with 190 seats (+14) in the new Parliament , according to still provisional results.
/ATS
