European Union leaders on Thursday selected three senior politicians to lead the bloc’s institutions for the next five years, demonstrating their commitment to Ukraine and the need for stability there. European elections surprise And it could be the United States.
At a summit in Brussels, the heads of government of the 27 EU member states agreed to nominate German conservative Ursula von der Leyen as president of the European Commission. Second term He heads the powerful European Commission, the executive branch of the European Union.
António Costa, a Socialist who until recently was Portugal’s prime minister, was chosen to preside over the European Council, a body of 27 heads of government that balances Ms. von der Leyen’s political and geographical background.
And Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, a Russia hawk, was chosen as the EU’s top diplomat.
The three senior politicians all have strong working relationships with each other and their selection represents an effort by EU leaders to remain committed to the EU despite far-right political leaders such as: Georgia Meloni In Italy, there are also extreme nationalist, nativist parties, such as Marine Le Pen’s National Rally In France.
Von der Leyen’s reelection will face a tough test in the European Parliament, the EU’s only elected body, where she will need to secure a majority in a secret ballot in the 720-seat parliament in mid-July. She belongs to the largest center-right group in parliament but is far from a majority.
European Commission: Second term
Von der Leyen, 65, has served as president of the European Commission since 2019, becoming the EU’s unexpected “wartime leader” and gaining wider visibility on the global stage than she did during her career as a German politician.
Ms von der Leyen, often referred to in political circles by her initials “VDL”, has been instrumental in representing member states in their response to the coronavirus pandemic, including the United Nations. Buy vaccines and an economic stimulus package financed through joint debt issuance, both firsts of their kind.
She firmly supports Ukraine War on Russia This is her latest trademark policy. She uses the resources of the committee Securing funding to arm and rebuild Ukraine and to push the country toward one day joining the European Union.
Ms. von der Leyen is a strong advocate for strong European ties with the United States and has quickly become one of President Biden and his administration’s most trusted leaders in Europe. This close alliance was particularly evident in the push for major sanctions against Russia following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
EU leaders who nominated the senior officials said they were satisfied with von der Leyen’s success in mobilising tens of thousands of the Commission’s expert staff and resources to support the bloc in responding to major crises over the past five years, despite some criticism.
Ms. von der Leyen is a workaholic who lives virtually in her studio in the European Commission’s 13th-floor offices. She has been criticized for micromanaging, alienating some of the Commission’s senior staff. More recently, she has appeared to uncritically support Israel, Gaza War Some have criticised her for not representing the EU’s overall position. Some have also said she is not open enough to the news media and the public at large.
New York Times Prosecuted The European Commission is pursuing a freedom of information case seeking the release of messages she exchanged with Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla during negotiations for the EU’s coronavirus vaccine contract. The multibillion-dollar purchase is the EU’s largest ever, and its exact terms and costs remain secret.
European Council: Cross-party friends
Mr Costa, 62, is a former Socialist Prime Minister of PortugalElected President of the European Council, the body that brings together member states’ governments and analyses their preferences.
The job requires some tricky diplomacy, as the Security Council president is tasked with coordinating and leading negotiations among 27 leaders from different political backgrounds who primarily defend their own narrow national interests. Mr. Costa will replace Belgian politician Charles Michel. Mr. Costa will serve a two-and-a-half-year term, renewable once.
Mr Costa’s appointment is a nod to the Socialists and Democrats, the second-largest political group in the European Parliament. He has a good relationship with Ms von der Leyen, having worked with her during her first term, when he was Portugal’s prime minister.
With the appointment, Mr Costa, who is of Mozambican and Indian descent, will become the first person of colour to hold a senior EU post.
He got into trouble domestically last year when his chief of staff was accused of corruption, but he has not been personally accused of any wrongdoing. Resignation After these allegations emerged in November 2023, we took preemptive measures.
Top diplomat: Baltic Bolt
The leaders also selected Ms. KarasEstonia’s prime minister is set to become the EU’s top diplomat, succeeding Josep Borrell Fontelles.
Spanish Socialist Borrell is known for his outspokenness, which has been both a strength and a weakness throughout his term, depending on one’s perspective.
He has repeatedly expressed support for the creation of a Palestinian state and criticized the way Israel is waging war against Hamas.
But he also attracted attention because Comments describing Europe He likened Ukraine to a “garden” and the rest of the world to a “jungle,” comments that sparked accusations of neo-colonialism and racism at a time when Europe is struggling to rally global support for Ukraine because of its long history of colonialism.
Choosing Ms Kallas, 47, a fierce Kremlin critic and one of the most outspoken pro-Ukrainian voices in the European Union, for the new post would send a strong signal to Russia. Ms Kallas, who must resign as prime minister to take up the new post, is a fierce critic of the Kremlin and one of the most outspoken pro-Ukraine voices in the European Union.
While the EU is not a major diplomatic force, with individual member governments preferring to take control of their own foreign policy rather than hand it over to a collective centre, the EU’s stance on Russia is important. The EU also collectively controls a number of important sanctions against many countries around the world, including Iran and Russia.
Aurelien Brittain Reports from Paris, and Monica Plunzuk From Brussels.
