EU leaders fail to agree on appointments to leadership positions

At a meeting on Monday, June 17, European Union leaders failed to agree on candidates for top EU posts, Politico reports, citing three unnamed diplomats.

It is noted that EU leaders did not support Ursula von der Leyen for a second term as head of the European Commission, despite assurances from French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz that they were approaching an agreement.

"No agreement has been reached today," European Council President Charles Michel told reporters.

Expectations had been high as 27 heads of state and government met in Brussels to divide the bloc's four top posts between the current coalition of the center-right European People's Party, the Socialists and the Liberals.

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An anonymous European diplomat said that although the negotiators agreed on three names, the leaders will continue discussions later, probably at the next meeting on June 27-28.

Politico writes that after the European elections, a consensus quickly emerged on the candidacy of German von der Leyen for a second term as head of the European Commission, Portuguese Antonio Costa as president of the EU Council, Roberta Mecola of Malta as president of the European Parliament, and Kaija Kallas of Estonia as head of foreign policy.

In recent weeks, a number of EU leaders have emphasized the importance of continuity in light of Russia's war against Ukraine and the potential return of former US President Donald Trump.

"But hopes for a quick deal evaporated on Monday night when the European People's Party, which won the European Parliament elections, demanded more concessions and more powers among senior officials," the article says.

The publication noted that the EPP wanted to reappoint von der Leyen and Metzola. The EPP also offered the Socialists to divide the powers of the president of the European Council into two parts of 2.5 years each in order to get one of them.

This angered the Socialists and Democrats (S&D), who had hoped to win the post. And shortly after the talks reached an impasse, the search for blame began, Politico reports.

Author - Ihor Lontkivskyi 18.06.24