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EU leaders initially did not agree on the names of the heads of Union institutions

by AI | 18.Jun 2024 | Europe in brief AI

The final agreements will be sought by the presidents and prime ministers of the member countries at a summit next Thursday and Friday.

EU flags flutter in the wind in front of the European Commission headquarters in Brussels. Photo: Arne Immanuel Bänsch/dpa

Brussels – European Union leaders at an informal summit in Brussels did not initially agree on the continuation of Ursula von der Leyen as President of the European Commission or on the filling of other top EU positions. After the more than four-hour Monday meeting, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala told reporters. Presidents and prime ministers of member countries would like to reach final agreements at the summit next Thursday and Friday. EU country leaders indicate that consensus is not far off.

“Today’s European Council’s aim was to exchange views, perspectives, priorities, and to try to reflect the election results and prepare for the next formal meeting,” said the Czech Prime Minister after the summit. According to him, it is important for future EU tasks and priorities that the union’s leaders now met and discussed their priorities, envisioning this would help them next week at the summit to agree on top EU posts. “Personally, I would prefer, and I think I’m not alone, I think we are the majority, to reach an agreement next time. I think it would be important given the challenges Europe is facing. But I’m not saying it must happen at all costs,” Fiala added.

“It was a good discussion. It went in a good direction, I think, but at this stage, there is no agreement,” said outgoing European Council President Charles Michel. According to him, it is the leaders’ “collective responsibility” to reach an agreement by the end of June. “It needs time to settle, I think we are not far (from an agreement),” said French President Emmanuel Macron. According to Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, the negotiations are not blocked.

Union presidents and prime ministers debated a total of four positions. The incumbent head von der Leyen from the EPP is again seeking the position of European Commission President. The main socialist candidate for the head of the European Council, i.e., EU summits, is former Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa, and the new head of EU diplomacy is likely to be Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas. The President of the European Parliament would like to remain Roberta Metsola from Malta.