Zelenskyj “particular visitor” on the EU summit

– We’re in historic occasions, says a high-ranking EU diplomat forward of the summit.

On Thursday and Friday, the EU’s heads of state and authorities collect for the primary summit after the EU elections.

Safety is paramount because the EU is anticipating a “particular visitor” on the summit. Nevertheless, it’s a poorly stored secret that the visitor is Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

In Brussels, amongst different issues, he’ll formally signal a safety settlement with the EU.

High administration cabal

On the assembly, essentially the most rigidity is linked as to whether the three proposed candidates for the EU’s high positions will slip by means of with out issues.

As is understood, main EU international locations akin to Germany and France and 4 different international locations have agreed on a package deal during which German Ursula von der Leyen will get 5 extra years as president of the European Fee.

Portugal’s former prime minister Antonio Costa will develop into EU president, and Estonia’s prime minister Kaja Kallas will develop into the EU’s international affairs chief.

Nevertheless, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has been, to place it mildly, sad about not having the ability to participate within the negotiations, particularly since her social gathering group within the EU Parliament, the far-right group ECR, is now the third largest within the parliament.

Reward for Meloni?

Whether or not Meloni has been promised a juicy reward within the type of, for instance, a submit as 1st vice-president within the fee for saying sure to the package deal, is presently unclear.

– We have no idea what’s going on inside Meloni’s head. What she’s going to get out of that is simply hypothesis.

– However it will be important that every one the international locations stand behind the choice, and that we present the surface world that the EU can stand collectively. These are very tough occasions now, says the EU diplomat.

– However there are at all times surprises. If the package deal have been to undergo, it could truly be fairly sensational. I feel it has by no means occurred earlier than that the names which can be talked about early are those that keep.

Strategic agenda

Additionally on the agenda is the EU’s new strategic agenda, which is able to level the best way for the Union’s priorities over the following 5 years.

Above all, protection and safety, competitiveness and continued help for Ukraine tower over there.

Different issues the EU will emphasize are getting management over migration and strengthening the combat towards organized crime.

Work on the strategic agenda has been happening for nearly a 12 months. It triggered a stir when a draft that was leaked this spring contained hardly a phrase about local weather.

Within the newest draft, which NTB has seen, a piece has been included stating that the EU will proceed to make sure a inexperienced transition.

The EU’s strategic agenda have to be adopted unanimously.

New impediment

Even when the summit agrees to present the reins to von der Leyen for an additional interval, there’s nonetheless one impediment left. She should even be accredited by the EU Parliament.

And it’s removed from bombproof that she’s going to get the 361 votes she wants there.

If she have been to be voted down, the Council of Ministers has one month to discover a new candidate.

– However I actually hope we do not get there, says the EU diplomat.

Center East and Georgia

The EU leaders may also talk about developments within the Center East and Georgia on the two-day assembly.

– We’re going to ship a transparent message to Georgia that latest developments are very problematic, says an official within the EU’s Council of Ministers.