The Twenty-Seven, assembly at a summit on Thursday night, agreed to reappoint Ursula von der Leyen as head of the European Fee and to nominate Antonio Costa as president of the European Council, in addition to Kaja Kallas as head of European diplomacy.
Printed on: 06/28/2024 – 00:00
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EU leaders assembly at a summit agreed on Thursday June 27 to grant a second mandate to Ursula von der Leyen as head of the Fee and to entrust European diplomacy to a robust voice on Ukraine, the Estonian Kaja Kallas.
This settlement on key EU positions was shortly concluded, regardless of sturdy resistance from the Italian Giorgia Meloni and the Hungarian Viktor Orban.
Ursula von der Leyen’s reappointment must be confirmed by an absolute majority of MEPs: “There’s nonetheless another step […]”I’ll search the approval of the European Parliament after presenting my political roadmap for the subsequent 5 years,” insisted the German conservative chief.
The result of this vote, anticipated in mid-July, is unsure, with the same old coalition of conservative, socialist and liberal MEPs weakened following the June elections.
To embody the face of EU diplomacy towards the backdrop of the conflict in Ukraine, the heads of state and authorities have chosen Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas – a decided opponent of the Kremlin. The 47-year-old liberal will succeed Spaniard Josep Borrell.
“It’s a large duty in these instances of geopolitical tensions, with the conflict in Europe, the rising instability in our neighbourhood, as the primary challenges,” reacted Kaja Kallas, whose place may even need to be validated by MEPs. “Kaja Kallas understands the dangers coming from Russia and Belarus,” welcomed the pinnacle of the Polish authorities Donald Tusk.
Lastly, former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa was appointed as the brand new President of the European Council, the physique that brings collectively the Member States. A yr after his resignation over a corruption case that was finally poorly substantiated, this socialist, identified for his skillful techniques and pragmatism, will succeed the Belgian Charles Michel in December.
“Very fast determination”
These three candidates had been extensively favored following the settlement reached on Tuesday between six European leaders – together with the French Emmanuel Macron and the German Olaf Scholz – belonging to the proper/social democrat/centrist “grand coalition”, within the wake of the elections European.
Olaf Scholz welcomed on Thursday “a really speedy and forward-looking determination”, in distinction to the laborious designation course of which tore the Twenty-Seven aside 5 years in the past.
Nonetheless, Hungarian nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Thursday denounced the association as “shameful”: “European voters have been deceived. [La droite traditionnelle] shaped a coalition of lies with the left and the liberals,” he had raged upon arriving on the summit.
The pinnacle of the ultra-conservative Italian authorities, Giorgia Meloni, had for her half denounced an “oligarchy”, deploring having been neglected of the negotiations between the three political teams. “Their proposal is fallacious in methodology and substance. I’ve determined to not assist it, out of respect for the residents and the sign they’ve within the European elections” in June, she lashed out on the finish of the summit. She abstained, based on a diplomatic supply.
Many leaders, nevertheless, had been eager to spare her: if her assist was not obligatory – unanimity was not required – politically her voice counts. “I feel there was a broad consensus, and I am positive a path can be [trouvé] subsequently: I completely respect the place of Giorgia Meloni, who represents an necessary nation,” careworn Emmanuel Macron.
Orban’s hopes
Like Viktor Orban, Giorgia Meloni intends to have extra affect on the alternatives of the long run government in Brussels, following the surge of the unconventional and excessive proper in the course of the European elections this month. The Italian chief’s ECR group took third place from the centrist household of French President Emmanuel Macron within the European Parliament.
Rome is demanding “at a minimal” a vice-presidency of the European Fee, with a “vital portfolio” to affect industrial and agricultural coverage, based on its International Minister Antonio Tajani.
This assembly of the Twenty-Seven was held three days earlier than early legislative elections in France, during which the Nationwide Rally (excessive proper) is extensively anticipated to be forward. When requested whether or not this election “solid a shadow” on the EU, Viktor Orban thought of that quite the opposite it introduced a “ray of sunshine”, believing that “nice issues can occur [en France] Sunday”.
For his half, Emmanuel Macron introduced throughout a gathering along with his liberal allies his want to reappoint Thierry Breton as French member of the Fee, based on European sources. Since 2019, he has been Commissioner for the Inner Market, a broad portfolio that features digital and business.
The leaders of the Twenty-Seven additionally endorsed on Thursday the “strategic agenda” setting the bloc’s priorities for the subsequent 5 years, emphasizing safety, protection, competitiveness and the struggle towards irregular immigration.
Among the many different key positions within the EU, the Maltese conservative Roberta Metsola seems favourite to win a second two-and-a-half-year time period as president of the European Parliament, mid-July in Strasbourg.
With AFP