EU leaders reach agreement on top EU jobs

File photo taken on March 21, 2024 shows President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen speaking at a press conference during the European Union (EU) summit in Brussels, Belgium. The European Council summit agreed on Thursday to formally nominate Germany’s Ursula von der Leyen for a second term as president of the European Commission. European Council President Charles Michel confirmed the nomination on social media platform X. In addition to von der Leyen’s nomination, EU leaders agreed to elect former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa as President of the European Council, while nominating Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas as the EU’s foreign policy chief. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)

BRUSSELS, June 27 (Xinhua) — The European Council summit agreed on Thursday to formally nominate Germany’s Ursula von der Leyen for a second term as president of the European Commission.

European Council President Charles Michel confirmed the nomination on social media platform X.

In addition to von der Leyen’s nomination, EU leaders agreed to elect former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa as President of the European Council, while nominating Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas as the EU’s foreign policy chief.

“It is with a strong sense of mission that I will take up the responsibility of being the next President of the European Council,” Costa stated on X. He added that he is fully committed to promoting unity among all 27 member states and focused on implementing the strategic agenda for the next five years approved at the summit.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni voted against Costa and Kallas while she abstained on von der Leyen’s re-appointment. Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban voted against von der Leyen, in favor of Costa and abstained on Kallas, Euronews reported, citing diplomatic sources. ■

File photo taken on Feb. 1, 2024 shows Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas attending the EU special summit in Brussels, Belgium. The European Council summit agreed on Thursday to formally nominate Germany’s Ursula von der Leyen for a second term as president of the European Commission. European Council President Charles Michel confirmed the nomination on social media platform X. In addition to von der Leyen’s nomination, EU leaders agreed to elect former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa as President of the European Council, while nominating Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas as the EU’s foreign policy chief. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)

File photo taken on Feb. 1, 2024 shows Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa attending the EU special summit in Brussels, Belgium. The European Council summit agreed on Thursday to formally nominate Germany’s Ursula von der Leyen for a second term as president of the European Commission. European Council President Charles Michel confirmed the nomination on social media platform X. In addition to von der Leyen’s nomination, EU leaders agreed to elect former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa as President of the European Council, while nominating Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas as the EU’s foreign policy chief. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)