Political Groups Agree on EU Leadership Package, Parliament Approval Pending
The European political groups have reached a consensus on Tuesday to nominate Germany’s Ursula von der Leyen for a second term as President of the European Commission, the European Union’s influential executive body, according to Reuters sources.
However, the agreement among the three main centrist blocs also included the appointing of former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa as President of the European Council and Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas as EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
Although von der Leyen, Costa, and Kallas were anticipated choices for these roles, EU national leaders did not reach consensus on the package during a recent dinner meeting. However, with backing from the three major party groups, swift confirmation of the agreement is expected when national leaders reconvene at a summit in Brussels later this week.
Nevertheless, von der Leyen must secure approval from the European Parliament for her second term, a step diplomats caution is uncertain and may require support from lawmakers outside the endorsing groups.
