EU leaders discuss distribution of top positions

European Union leaders on Monday postponed their final decision on the bloc’s top key posts to a summit due to take place at the end of June, but the signs of an agreement on Ursula von der Leyen remaining as European Commission president were evident during talks in Brussels.

European Council President Charles Michel stressed at a press conference that the dinner that brought together European leaders during the informal summit wasn’t aimed at reaching a final agreement on the first three positions: the presidency of the Commission, the presidency of the European Council and the coordinator of foreign affairs.

“They were good talks… I think it’s going in the right direction,” he said, calling it a “collective duty to make a decision” when leaders return to Brussels for the summit on June 27-28.

French President Emmanuel Macron echoed Michel’s announcement, saying he expected an agreement to be reached next week and saying things needed some calm “but we’re not far away”.

The informal meeting is the first meeting of EU heads of state and government after elections from June 6 to June 9, which saw far-right advances in many countries, including France and Germany.

A new European summit is scheduled for June 27-28 to confirm the appointment of European leaders.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said upon his arrival, “I am confident that we will reach an agreement as soon as possible”.

Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris went in the same direction, saying, “I haven’t heard that there are other names proposed at this stage”.

Ursula von der Leyen has good chances of retaining her position as the candidate of the right wing European People’s Party (EPP), which came first in the election with 190 seats (up 14 seats in the new parliament), according to the results, which are still tentative.

Leaders should also agree on the position of EU foreign affairs chief and president of the European Council tasked with organizing and managing member states’ leaders’ summits.

The latter position is currently held by Belgian Charles Michel, who has a difficult relationship with von der Leyen.

The Social Democrats, who make up the second largest political group in the European Parliament, are demanding the presidency of the European Council with the name of former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa.

The 62-year-old socialist is under investigation for influence peddling that led to his resignation from the Portuguese government in November, but many diplomats believe this isn’t an insurmountable obstacle as suspicions about him appear to be dissipating.

The appointments also include the post of foreign affairs official, currently held by Spanish socialist Josep Borrell, who retires at the age of 77.

Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas appears to be the favorite to succeed him.

The 46-year-old Eastern European liberal will be the only Eastern European among the top office-holders.

Kallas was known for her unwavering support for Ukraine in the war waged against it by Estonia’s neighbor Russia.

Before the talks began, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk wrote on X that he was very satisfied with the cooperation with von der Leyen and also supported Kaja Kallas, “who knows very well the Ukrainian and Russian realities and has the same position as Poland”.

Malta’s Roberta Mezzula, (45_, has been president of the European Parliament since January 2022 and is expected to win a two-and-a-half-year term, barring surprises at this level.

Von der Leyen, a 65-year-old Christian Christian from Germany, needs a qualified majority from at least 15 countries representing 65% of Europe’s population.

The EPP has about 12 officials within the European Council.

The support of Emmanuel Macron from the centrist and liberal camp, as well as Olaf Scholz, who belongs to the Social Democrats, is vital.

Both men emerged weak from the European elections and defeated their parties against the far right, which Macron met with calling early legislative elections in France.

Conversely, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who has grown stronger during these elections, may have an interest in not deciding early on the top positions and waiting until she can have a clearer vision on forming groups in the European Parliament to negotiate her party’s positions, diplomats said.

Its group of European Conservatives and Reformists won 76 seats, four fewer than Renew Europe or Renew Europe (which includes Emmanuel Macron’s Ennahda), but it could see its ranks expanded by a certain number of MEPs who are currently among the roughly 90 who have not announced joining any bloc.

If chosen by EU leaders, Ursula von der Leyen must later obtain an absolute majority of 361 deputies in the European Parliament.

In 2019, she was narrowly elected, leading by only nine votes.