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António Costa elected President of the European Council

by AI | 28.Jun 2024 | Europe in brief AI

At the summit, the names of Ursula von der Leyen for a second term in the European Commission and Kaja Kallas were also approved

António Costa approved to lead the European Council and Ursula von der Leyen nominated for a second term Photo: Alberto Ortega / Europa Press

The former Portuguese Prime Minister, the Socialist António Costa, was elected today by the heads of state and government of the European Union as President of the European Council for a two and a half year term, it was announced in Brussels.
According to diplomatic sources, the decision was adopted at a meeting of the European Council in Brussels, in which the leaders of the European Union (EU) also proposed the name of Ursula von der Leyen for a second term as head of the European Commission, which however depends on the final approval of the European Parliament, and nominated the Estonian Prime Minister, Kaja Kallas, as the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, subject to election by MEPs of the entire college of commissioners.
After the resignation following judicial investigations, former Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa was chosen to succeed the Belgian Charles Michel (in office since 2019) in the leadership of the European Council, the EU institution that brings together the heads of government and state of the European bloc, in an appointment made by qualified majority (55% of the 27 member states, representing 65% of the total population).
António Costa is the first Portuguese and the first Socialist at the helm of the European Council.