EU leaders chose German woman Ursula von der Leyen for a second term as president of the European Commission, as it was previously known. At the Brussels Summit, the leaders also chose the Portuguese Antonio Costa and Estonia Kaya Callas for the highest positions in the European Council and the EU foreign policy service, respectively.
The faces have been approved by qualified majority (including at least 21 countries representing 65% of the European population). The discussion and voting for the top positions lasted about an hour and a half. The Estonian Prime Minister, by candidacy, and Ursula von der Leyen left the room.
On Tuesday, six negotiators from the three main centrist political groups approved von der Leyen, Costa and Callas for these roles. On Thursday, the remaining leaders supported these decisions.
Meloni’s attitude
Earlier this week, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni made it clear to other leaders that she was angry at being left out of the negotiations, with her political group in the European Parliament now the third largest after June’s European elections. “It seems to me that, so far, there is a reluctance to take into account the message that citizens gave at the ballot box,” Meloni said on the eve of the summit.
On Thursday night, he refrained from supporting a second term for von der Leyen and voted against Costa and Callas.
O Viktor Orban Hungary was more blunt, calling the deal “shameful.”
Now, von der Leyen has to deal with a razor-sharp vote in the European Parliamentwhich even his own party allies admit will be a bigger challenge in comparison. That vote could take place on July 18, Politico notes. At least 361 votes out of 720 MEPs are needed for approval.
Leaders also approved on Thursday the Strategic Agenda, an ambitious document that aims to guide the future work of the three nominees.