Key Points
- Von der Leyen nominated to stay on in top EU job
- Estonian PM Kaja Kallas has been picked as the next foreign affairs chief
- Portuguese ex-PM António Costa has been chosen as the next chairman of EU summits
- All three candidates come from centrist, pro-EU factions
- The European Parliament is set to vote on these nominations next month
Von der Leyen nominated to stay on in top EU job
EU leaders have nominated Ursula von der Leyen for a second five-year term as European Commission head. Alongside her, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas has been picked as the next foreign affairs chief, and former Portuguese prime minister António Costa has been chosen as the next chairman of EU summits. All three candidates come from centrist, pro-EU factions, with von der Leyen representing the centre-right, Costa a socialist, and Kallas a liberal.
Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, from the hard-right European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) bloc, expressed resistance to the nominations, criticising the exclusion of her party despite its success in the recent European Parliament elections. Meloni abstained from voting for von der Leyen and opposed Costa and Kallas.
The European Parliament is set to vote on these nominations next month, and approval could be challenging. Von der Leyen expressed gratitude for the support, Kallas emphasised her commitment to European unity, and Costa highlighted the importance of building unity among member states. Costa will replace Charles Michel, and Kallas will succeed Josep Borrell in their respective roles.
Who nominated Ursula Von der Leyen?
European Union leaders on Thursday nominated Germany’s centre-right Ursula von der Leyen for a second five-year term as head of the powerful European Commission.
Hungary’s PM Viktor Orban voted against von der Leyen and Kallas, EU diplomats said.
Italy’s PM Georgia Meloni abstained from the vote on von der Leyen but voted against Costa and Kallas for their posts.
Europe is at a turning point. 30 years ago, it represented roughly a quarter of global GDP, but now we’ve fallen behind. GDP per capita in the EU is half of that in the US. Our companies are growing more slowly, reporting lower returns and lagging behind in R&D. Reversing…
— Nick Clegg (@nickclegg) June 27, 2024
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