
Photo: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (center) talks with Croatian Prime Minister Andre Plenkovic (left) and Belgian Prime Minister De Croo (right) on the 17th. \Reuters
According to AFP: The EU held an informal summit in Brussels on the 17th and failed to reach a consensus on supporting von der Leyen’s re-election as President of the European Commission. It is reported that the leaders of the 27 member states will agree on the final candidate for the position at the EU summit held from June 27 to 28.
The European Parliament elections ended on the 9th. The far-right parties have further risen. French President Macron has dissolved the National Assembly and held early elections. Public opinion believes that the new EU leaders must focus on regional and political balance.
Several EU diplomats revealed that von der Leyen is expected to be re-elected as President of the European Commission, former Portuguese Prime Minister Costa may serve as President of the European Council, current European Parliament President Metsora will remain in office, and Estonian Prime Minister Kallas will serve as High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. There is currently controversy surrounding the appointment of von der Leyen and Kallas.
At the G7 summit held in Italy last week, the leaders of France, Germany and Italy all tacitly approved von der Leyen’s re-election. The center-right People’s Party, to which von der Leyen belongs, won the most seats in the new European Parliament and demanded more concessions from the second-ranked Social Democratic Party, leading to a deadlock in the negotiations.
EU leaders will further discuss EU leadership candidates at a summit at the end of the month. The European Parliament will vote in mid-July, and von der Leyen needs the support of at least 361 of the 720 MEPs to be re-elected.
source: china