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EU leaders On Thursday, the European Commission approved Ursula von der Leyen, Antonio Costa and Kaja Kallas as the trio to lead the three major EU institutions for the next five years.
The EU’s top job package includes a second term for current European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, from the center-right European People’s Party (EPP) and former Portuguese Socialist prime minister. Antonio Costa Served as President of the European Council and Prime Minister of Estonia’s Liberal Party Kaja Kara As the new EU foreign policy chief said, several EU diplomats confirmed this.
People familiar with the negotiations said it took EU leaders about an hour to reach a deal after von der Leyen and Kallas left the room.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meroni abstained from voting on von der Leyen’s nomination and voted against Costa and Kallas.
Meanwhile, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán voted against von der Leyen in favor of Costa but abstained in favor of Kallas, according to a diplomatic source.
Kallas left the room because she was one of the candidates in the package and transferred her vote to Finnish Foreign Minister Petteri Orpo, according to people familiar with the matter.
In response to his appointment, von der Leyen explain She “thanked” EU leaders for backing her nomination for re-election.
Costa explain He “looks forward to working closely with them in a spirit of loyal cooperation between European institutions”.
“Your trust means a lot. We must continue to work together to ensure Europe is an effective global partner that keeps our citizens free, safe and prosperous.” explain in response to her nomination.
She added: “As HRVP, I will be committed to serving our common interests.”
The leaders’ decision comes three weeks after EU elections, in which centrist parties — the Socialists, the center-right European People’s Party and the Liberal Party — emerged victorious. Most seatsThis is despite huge victories for the far-right European Conservatives and Reforms (ECR) and the far-right Identity and Democrats (ID).
Von der Leyen’s nomination now needs to be approved by a simple majority of the European Parliament on Thursday (July 19).
However, she may struggle to get the 362 votes needed for confirmation. She could get 399 votes if she includes MEPs from the European People’s Party, Socialists and Liberals political groups, but only if no MEPs oppose the deal.
The national delegations of these groups may not all support her. She may need to convince the Greens, and possibly even some members of the ECR, who are considered more “moderate,” to ensure her reelection.
If von der Leyen fails to win parliamentary approval next month, EU leaders will have a month to choose an alternative candidate and restart the process.
As the EU’s next chief diplomat, Kallas will need to undergo a series of public hearings starting in late September, when lawmakers from the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee (AFET) and Security and Defence Subcommittee (SEDE) will question her on her policy vision.
Ultimately, the entire panel, including Karas, will need to be approved In the block, go through After long negotiations among the political groups and commissioners of the European Parliament, the EU has reached an agreement on a specific work plan for the next five years.
Costa is currently considered the president-elect and will take over the position on December 1, when current council president Charles Michel steps down at the end of November this year.
Under the EU treaties, his term is expected to be two and a half years, though he may be re-elected for one more term under a gentlemen’s agreement.
（Edited by Rajnish Singh)
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