Ursula von der Leyen has secured the nomination to serve a second term as President of the European Commission, despite objections from Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who criticized the process as “wrong.”
Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas is set to become the EU’s top diplomat, representing the bloc on the global stage for the next five years.
Former Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa has been chosen to take over as President of the European Council, tasked with finding compromises among the 27 heads of state and government.
At the conclusion of an EU summit focused on Europe’s future and security policy, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk tweeted: “Kaja, Ursula and António accepted.
Defence plans accepted. Satisfaction.
For Poland and for Europe.”
Meloni abstained from voting on von der Leyen’s appointment and opposed the other two nominations.
While von der Leyen’s path to a second term is promising, it is not guaranteed; she must win the approval of a majority of the European Parliament’s 720 MEPs, who are expected to vote next month.
Kallas’s confirmation by the Commission President is considered a formality.
She will also appear before MEPs in the autumn, although they cannot reject her as the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs.
In 2019, von der Leyen became the first woman to lead the EU executive in its 62-year history, narrowly securing MEPs’ support.
Despite her backing groups holding a theoretical majority of 55%, a significant number might vote against her in the secret ballot.
Von der Leyen has committed to working “intensively” to broaden her support beyond the EPP, Socialists, and Renew platform.
She plans to engage with national delegations and individual MEPs, including those who are critical or have questions.
A former German government minister, von der Leyen is viewed by EU leaders as having effectively managed the EU’s response to the pandemic and the largest European conflict since 1945.
Her frontrunner status was further strengthened after her centre-right European People’s Party (EPP) won the most seats in the recent European Parliament elections.
A recent agreement among leaders of the EPP, the Socialists, and the centrist Renew group has cleared another hurdle for her candidacy.
However, Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has vehemently opposed the agreement among the three pro-European groups.
As the summit concluded, Meloni reiterated her criticism of the process, which she described as “wrong in method and substance.”
She emphasized that her government continues “to work to finally give Italy the weight it deserves in Europe.”
Meloni, who leads the European Conservatives and Reformists group, the third-largest in Parliament, accused the six male leaders who made the decision of acting like oligarchs.
Earlier, centre-right leaders attempted to win over Meloni.
Tusk expressed his “great respect” for Italy and its Prime Minister, noting that any tensions might have stemmed from misunderstandings.
“There is no Europe without Italy and there is no decision without Prime Minister Meloni,” he said.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, another EPP negotiator, echoed this sentiment, stating that it was never their intention to exclude or offend anyone.
Talks began in the evening in Brussels, after a day where leaders met with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who urged them to fulfill their military support promises.
He stated that Russia’s latest offensive in the Kharkiv region, which had been halted, demonstrated that current pressure on the invader “is not enough.”
Following Zelenskiy’s departure, EU leaders debated defense spending, including whether Europe should replicate the COVID recovery plan with more collective borrowing.
Von der Leyen highlighted the need for €500 billion in defense investments in the EU and urged member states to decide whether to fund defense through their own budgets or common EU borrowing.
Germany and the Netherlands expressed their opposition to joint debt, resulting in a diluted text to address concerns about long-term financial commitments.
During the discussions about key positions—over a dinner of summer vegetables, Ostend-style filet of sole, and nectarine and rosemary tart with yogurt mousse—von der Leyen and Kallas left the room.
Kallas, known for her warnings about Russia’s aggression, emerged as an early favorite to succeed Spain’s Josep Borrell as the EU’s chief diplomat.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson praised her “impeccable track record,” saying she “will bring solid experience within several areas, not least the EU’s unwavering support to Ukraine.”
Costa, who has served three terms in Portugal, is expected to assume his role on December 1.
He expressed his commitment to promoting unity among all 27 member states.
The veteran Socialist is well-regarded by EU leaders, even gaining the endorsement of Hungary’s right-wing nationalist Viktor Orbán.
Orbán voted against von der Leyen, abstained on Kallas, and supported Costa.
Earlier, Belgium’s outgoing Prime Minister Alexander De Croo dismissed criticism of the deal among Europe’s three pro-European political groups.
De Croo, a liberal leading a seven-party coalition government, stated that reaching agreements between different political forces is “how democracy works.”
“Democracy is not only about blocking, democracy is about who wants to work together and those three political groups are willing to work together for the benefit of all Europeans.”
In response to Meloni’s heated speech to the Italian Parliament, De Croo referenced a Dutch proverb: “Sometimes the soup is not eaten at the same temperature that it is being served.”
This means, he explained, that “yesterday was yesterday, let’s listen to what is being said around the table today.”
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