European leaders gathered on Thursday to make significant decisions about key EU positions. Ursula von der Leyen was given a second term as the head of the European Commission, while Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas was appointed as the new representative of EU diplomacy in the midst of the conflict in Ukraine. Additionally, former Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa was named as the new president of the European Council.
However, not everyone was happy with these appointments. Hungarian nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban criticized the arrangement and accused the right of forming deceptive coalitions with the left and liberals. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni abstained on von der Leyen’s appointment and voted against Kallas and Costa, expressing concerns about an “oligarchy” in EU decision-making.
The outcome of von der Leyen’s confirmation vote, expected in mid-July, is uncertain due to shifts in political coalitions within the European Parliament following recent elections. Despite this uncertainty, agreements were finalized ahead of the Brussels summit following alliances between various European leaders.
As Europe moves forward with its priorities for the next five years, including security, defense, competitiveness, and immigration policies, these changes in key EU positions reflect a changing political landscape following recent events and alliances.
