The disagreements at yesterday’s EU summit are indicative of what will happen in the next period of time.
The white smoke may finally have cleared and Ursula von der Leyen, Antonio Costa and Kaya Callas have been given the go-ahead for the EU’s top three positions. – President of the European Commission, President of the European Council and in charge of foreign policy respectively – however, the attitude of the “bad boys”, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, has caused fissures on the torn European front.
Georgia Meloni abstained from voting on Von der Leyen’s nomination and voted against the nominations of Costa and Callas. Orbán voted against Von der Leyen, in favour of Costa and abstained on Kalas’ candidacy.
The attitude of the two did not affect the decision, as the treaties do not provide for unanimity in the appointment of positions.
The disagreement between the two is not based on any substantial difference regarding the direction of the EU. They did not propose a candidate, they simply considered Von der Leyen’s choice “ideological and political”, considering the Commission more of a technocratic and less political institution.
Meloni, buoyed by her party’s recent electoral success, is seeking to play a more central role in EU decision-making.
Orban, whose country assumes the European presidency from next week, wants to leave his mark on European developments, continuing to swing towards Moscow.
Given that from tomorrow the shift to the extreme right will be formalized by French votes, a not-so-united Europe will be faced with new, difficult challenges.