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BRUSSELS.- The leaders of the countries of the European Union (EU) began this Thursday in Brussels a two-day summit to formalize the distribution of the bloc’s main positionsto the outrage of far-right leaders in Italy and Hungary, who were excluded from the negotiations.
The power-sharing agreement was reached on Tuesday between Six countries with right-wing, social-democratic or liberal leadersamong them the French president, Emmanuel Macronand the German head of government, Olaf Scholz.
The names were defined after the legislative elections held by the 27 countries of the bloc from June 6 to 9 and in which a significant advance by the extreme right was recorded.
The ultra-nationalist Prime Minister of Hungary, Viktor Orbandenounced upon reaching the summit a “shameful agreement” and claimed that “European voters had been scammed.”
The head of government of Italy, Georgia Meloniat the head of an ultra-conservative coalition, denounced on Wednesday an “oligarchy” deal and suggested it could ruin the party.
The agreement provides for a second term for German Ursula von der Leyen at the head of the European Commission, the EU’s executive arm.
He also places the Portuguese Antonio Costa in the presidency of the European Council (made up of the heads of state and government of the EU countries) and the Prime Minister of Estonia, Kaja Kallasas High Representative, at the head of the bloc’s diplomacy.
The names of Von der Leyen, Costa and Kallas They will be presented to the summit for approval. In an informal meeting held a week ago, the three names had gathered consensus.
“There is absolutely no doubt, there is a clear consensus that (…) Von der Leyen will be appointed” said Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris upon arriving at the summit.
Arriving at the meeting, Kallas was cautious. “In Estonia, we often say that you cannot promise the bear’s skin before hunting it.”
Although the agenda is scheduled for Thursday and Friday, a majority of delegations announced that intends to settle the matter in a single day, to send a message of unity.
“The hope is that everyone will support” the agreement on the division of responsibilities. “All countries in the bloc are equally important,” said Scholz.
The big question is to know the degree of resistance that the governments most directly linked to the extreme rightespecially Italy and Hungary.
The approval of the names for the main European positions does not require unanimity but only a majority votewhich must be ratified on 18 July by the European Parliament.
Meloni and Orban demand that the distribution of positions respects the flow of votes in the recent European elections.
Meloni demands that Italy have “at least” a vice presidency of the European Commission and a portfolio from which may have influence in industrial and agricultural matters.
The relationship of forces in the EU could be radically redefined if the far-right National Rally (RN) prevails in France’s early legislative elections, which will be held on June 30 and July 7.
The RN was the first French force in the European elections and if it manages to form a majority in the country it could force Macron to appoint a prime minister from that force.
In addition to addressing the distribution of positions, the EU leaders signed with the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyan agreement on the “security commitments” of the EU with Ukraine, which has been facing a Russian military invasion for more than two years.
A draft of the summit conclusions, to which AFP had access, expresses the EU’s determination to “continue to support Ukraine and its people on a political, financial, economic, humanitarian, military and diplomatic level for as long as necessary.” .
Zelensky told European leaders that his country “urgently needs” anti-aircraft defense equipment.
AP and AFP Agencies
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