Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission and leading candidate for re-election of the European People’s Party, during a meeting of Germany’s conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) at the Estre Berlin Hotel on May 8, 2024 Greet the delegates at the congress and then deliver a speech.
John McDougall | AFP | Getty Images
The European Union’s three main political groups have agreed on who will hold the bloc’s top job, three officials told CNBC, raising the ire of some lawmakers across the continent.
The sources could only speak anonymously due to the sensitive nature of the discussions. The appointments have not yet been formally confirmed.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will remain in office for a second five-year term under an agreement reached on Tuesday by EU leaders from the centre-right European People’s Party (EPP), Socialists and Liberals, sources said. Corporate Finance Channel.
Under the same deal, Estonian Prime Minister Kaya Karas will serve as the EU’s chief diplomat, while former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa will serve as president of the European Council, the body that brings together EU heads of state.
The Commission President heads the EU’s executive arm, which oversees the world’s single market, proposes new legislation and guides the EU’s policy agenda for the next five years.
At the same time, the Council President determines the EU’s overall direction and political priorities. The EU’s chief diplomat is responsible for foreign policy and international relations.
“There is an understanding between the three main parties,” one of three EU officials told CNBC.
Sources said the trio of von der Leyen, Callas and Costa had the approval of six EU leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk agreed on behalf of the European People’s Party, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez backed Scholz’s support for the Socialist Party, and outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte It means Renew joins Macron.
The appointments are in line with the EU’s geographical balance requirements and will be formally approved by the EU’s current heads of state at a meeting in Brussels on Thursday. Later, the European Parliament will vote on it.
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Some leaders are expected to express dissatisfaction with the way the negotiations were conducted.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said in a statement on Tuesday: “The agreement reached by the European People’s Party with the left and liberals goes against all the foundations of the European Union.” Publish on social media platform. His country will hold the European Council presidency next month.
“Instead of being inclusive, it sows the seeds of division. Senior EU officials should represent every member state, not just the left and liberals!” he added.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgio Meloni, also on the right, has similarly condemned the progress of her European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) party in this month’s European Parliament elections, but is not involved in the negotiations.
“I don’t think the negotiations for the EU’s top job are currently taking into account citizens’ votes in EU elections,” Meloni said on Wednesday, according to Reuters.
Von der Leyen’s EPP tops list, wins 189 seats Her centrist allies in the 720-member parliament have lost support amid record gains on the right, including Meloni’s ECR.
Another EU official told CNBC last week, who also could only speak anonymously due to the sensitivity of the discussions, that Meloni “seemed to think that as one of the winners of the election she should be the main candidate, but she didn’t.” “
One of three CNBC sources with knowledge of the negotiations said on Tuesday that the Italian prime minister “wants to be constructive” and suggested Meloni would also approve the three appointments.
Italy’s deal could put it in a better position to boost the European Commission’s strong portfolio. Von der Leyen will choose her new team within weeks of her job being confirmed, while Meloni may be able to secure a role in areas such as industrial strategy, economics or competition.
The new European Commission will take office in November, and the new European Council President will take office on December 1.
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