Brussels (EuroEFE).- EU heads of state and government agreed on Thursday to appoint German conservative Ursula von der Leyen for a second term as president of the European Commission and Portuguese socialist António Costa as president of the European Council, as well as Estonian liberal Kaja Kallas as High Representative for Foreign Affairs.
“Kaja, Ursula and António accepted,” announced Polish Prime Minister and former President of the European Council Donald Tusk on the social network X.
The leaders of the Twenty-Seven thus validated the shortlist that the negotiators of the three main pro-European political families had proposed on Tuesday, which had angered leaders who are not affiliated with either, such as Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
In fact, none of the three candidates came out ahead due to the desired consensus: Meloni abstained from Von der Leyen’s nomination and voted against Kallas and Costawhile Orbán voted against Von der Leyendiplomatic sources said.
Meanwhile he appointment of António Costa is now finalboth Von der Leyen and Kallas will have to pass separate votes in the European Parliament: the German will likely have it in mid-July and the Estonian will face a hearing with parliamentary committees during the fall.
Von der Leyen He is confident that he will be able to have a good work dynamic with Meloni.
“I think it’s important work well in the European Council with Italy as with all the Member States. “This is a principle that I always follow,” the German said at a press conference after the European summit.
He also assured that during the next three weeks before his confirmation vote in the European Parliament will seek to “convince a strong majority for a strong Europe” and stressed that he wants to cooperate with parties and MEPs that are in favor of the European Union, of Ukraine in the face of the Russian invasion and of the rule of law.
“We are in the process of building a platform with the Popular Party, the Social Democrats and the Liberals and I will contact other MEPs from other groups,” said Von der Leyen, who confirmed that she will attend meetings of the European Parliament groups that invite her to answer their questions, as she did in 2019.
Promote unity
Costa, former Portuguese Prime Minister, pledged to promote unity among the 27 Member States.
In a message on his X account, he indicated that “with a huge sense of mission” he will assume that responsibility once he takes office on December 1.
Costa thanked the trust placed in him, in addition to thanking the European Socialist Party and the Portuguese Government for their support.
Likewise, he praised the Council’s decision to keep Von der Leyen at the head of the European Commission and to appoint Kallas as high representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs.
«I intend to work closely with them, in a spirit of loyal cooperation between the European institutions,” said the Portuguese politician.
Costa also addressed his predecessor in office, Charles Michel, thanking him for his “enormous dedication” to Europe and wishing him the best for the remainder of his term.
Kallas said the main challenges he will face as EU diplomats will be war in Europe and instability in the EU’s neighbourhood and globally.
“Honoured by the support of the European Council, it is a huge responsibility at this time of geopolitical tensions,” the Estonian president wrote on her X account.
As he indicated, “the war in Europe, the growing instability in our neighborhood and worldwide are the main challenges of European foreign policy.”
He assured that his objective will be “working towards EU unityprotect the interests and values of the EU in the new geopolitical context and build global partnerships.”
Edited by Miriam Burgués
