The European Union is at an impasse over the appointment of its top officials, including the President of the European Commission and the European Council, despite high-level meetings in Brussels. Ursula von der Leyen, the incumbent President of the European Commission, seeks re-election for a second term and has garnered support from prominent EU member states, but the decision remains contentious. The European People’s Party (EPP), the largest political group in the EU, is advocating for her candidacy, yet a consensus is elusive.The presidency of the European Council is another major point of contention. While the Social Democrats have proposed Antonio Costa, former Portuguese Prime Minister, for the role, the EPP is pushing for a conservative candidate. Additionally, the position of the EU foreign policy chief is up for grabs, with Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas emerging as a strong contender.Amidst these discussions, the EU leaders are also grappling with the EU’s strategic agenda and the influence of eurosceptic and nationalist parties following recent electoral gains. Charles Michel, the President of the European Council, has indicated that while the conversations are heading in the right direction, further work is needed to reach an agreement. The leaders are scheduled to reconvene at an official EU summit next week with the aim of finalizing these critical leadership roles.
Key points
- EU leaders are divided on the re-election of Ursula von der Leyen as President of the European Commission.
- No consensus reached on the presidency of the European Council, with Antonio Costa and a conservative EPP candidate in contention.
- Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas is a candidate for the EU foreign policy chief role.
- Further discussions and a potential decision are expected at the next EU summit.
