European Union leaders on Thursday picked three senior politicians to lead the bloc’s institutions for the next five years, signaling a commitment to Ukraine and the need for stability amid possible electoral turmoil in Europe and the United States.
At a summit in Brussels, the heads of government of 27 EU member states agreed to nominate German conservative Ursula von der Leyen for a second term as president of the European Commission (the EU’s executive body).
Socialist António Costa, until recently Portugal’s prime minister, was chosen to chair the European Council, which includes the 27 heads of government, balancing Ms von der Leyen’s political and geographical background.
Estonian Prime Minister Kaya Karas, who is hawkish on Russia, has been elected as the EU’s top diplomat.
The selection of the three senior politicians, who have strong working relationships with each other, is part of an effort by EU leaders to put relatively centrist figures at the head of key institutions, despite the rise of hard-line right-wing political leaders such as For example, Italy’s Giorgia Meloni (Giorgia Meloni), and ultra-nationalist, nativist parties such as France’s Marine Le Pen (Marine Le Pen) National Rally.
Ms von der Leyen’s re-election will face a tough test in the European Parliament, the EU’s only democratically elected body, where she will need to lobby for a majority in the 720-seat parliament, where a vote is due in mid-July. She belongs to the largest centre-right group in parliament but falls far short of a majority.
European Commission: second term
Ms von der Leyen, 65, has served as European Commission president since 2019, becoming the EU’s unlikely wartime leader and gaining wider visibility on the global stage than she has in her career.
Ms von der Leyen, often referred to by her initials “VDL” in political circles, became a household name in the EU after leading the response to the coronavirus pandemic on behalf of member states, including joint purchases of vaccines and vaccines. Debt-funded economic stimulus package, this is the first time.
Her unwavering support for Ukraine in its war with Russia is her latest signature policy. She has used the committee’s resources to press for funding for weapons and reconstruction in Ukraine and to push for the country to one day join the European Union.
Ms. von der Leyen is a strong supporter of Europe’s strong relationship with the United States and has quickly become one of President Joe Biden and his administration’s most trusted leaders in Europe. This close alliance was particularly evident in the push for major sanctions against Russia in February 2022 following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
EU leaders who nominated the senior officials said they were satisfied with the way Ms von der Leyen had successfully mobilized the commission’s tens of thousands of expert staff and resources to support the bloc’s response to major crises, despite some criticism.
Ms von der Leyen, a workaholic who practically lives in a studio in the European Commission’s 13th-floor offices, has been criticized for micromanaging and alienating some senior commission staff. Recently, her seemingly uncritical support for Israel’s war in Gaza has been criticized by some as not representative of the EU’s overall position. Some also said she was not open enough to the news media and the public at large.
The New York Times is suing the commission in a freedom of information case seeking the release of information she exchanged with Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla during negotiations on the EU Covid-19 vaccine contract. The multi-billion-dollar purchase is the EU’s largest ever and its exact terms and costs remain confidential.
European Council: Cross-Strait Friends
Mr. Costa, the 62-year-old former Prime Minister of the Portuguese Socialist Party, was elected President of the European Council. The Council is the body that convenes the national governments of member states and parses their preferences.
The job involves some tricky diplomacy, as the council president is tasked with coordinating and leading negotiations among 27 leaders from different political backgrounds who mainly advocate for their countries’ narrow interests. Mr Costa will succeed Belgian politician Charles Michel. Mr. Costa’s term is two-and-a-half years, renewable once.
Mr Costa’s appointment is a nod to the Socialists and Democrats, the second largest political grouping in the European Parliament. He has a good relationship with Ms von der Leyen, having worked with her during her first term as Portugal’s prime minister.
With this appointment, Mr. Costa, who is of Mozambican and Indian descent, will become the first person of color to hold a senior EU position.
He got into trouble at home last year after his chief of staff was accused of corruption, but he has not been accused of any wrongdoing personally. He preemptively resigned from his post in November 2023 after the allegations came to light.
Top Diplomat: Baltic Bolt
The leaders also appointed Estonian Prime Minister Ms Karas as the EU’s top diplomat, replacing Josep Borrell Fontales.
Mr. Borrell is a Spanish Socialist known for his outspokenness, which has proven to be both a strength and a weakness, depending on the point of view, throughout his tenure.
He has repeatedly expressed support for the establishment of a Palestinian state and criticized Israel’s approach to waging war against Hamas.
But he also attracted attention for comments describing Europe as a “garden” and juxtaposing it with the rest of the world, which he called a “jungle.” The comments came as Europe grapples with global support for Ukraine due to the long shadow of colonialism, sparking accusations of neocolonialism and racism.
Choosing Ms Karas would send a strong signal to Russia that she would have to resign as prime minister in order to take up the new role. Karas, 47, is a fierce critic of the Kremlin and one of the most outspoken pro-Ukrainian voices in the EU.
While the EU is not a major diplomatic force and its individual member governments prefer to control their own foreign policy rather than hand it over to a collective center, its position on Russia is important. The group also controls at a collective level a range of important sanctions against many countries around the world, including Iran and Russia.
Aurelien Breeden reporting from Paris, and Monica Proczuk From Brussels.
