- Europe, like you've never read before -
Friday, 18 July 2025
No Result
View All Result
  • it ITA
  • en ENG
Eunews
  • Politics
  • World
  • Business
  • News
  • Defence
  • Net & Tech
  • Agrifood
  • Other sections
    • Culture
    • Diritti
    • Energy
    • Green Economy
    • Finance & Insurance
    • Industry & Markets
    • Media
    • Mobility & Logistics
    • Sports
  • Newsletter
  • European 2024
    Eunews
    • Politics
    • World
    • Business
    • News
    • Defence
    • Net & Tech
    • Agrifood
    • Other sections
      • Culture
      • Diritti
      • Energy
      • Green Economy
      • Finance & Insurance
      • Industry & Markets
      • Media
      • Mobility & Logistics
      • Sports
    No Result
    View All Result
    Eunews
    No Result
    View All Result

    Home » Politics » The ‘who’s who’ of the new European legislature: here are the new EU top appointees

    The ‘who’s who’ of the new European legislature: here are the new EU top appointees

    Heads of state and government appoint Von der Leyen, Kallas and Costa. One confirmation and two renewals for the next five years

    Emanuele Bonini</a> <a class="social twitter" href="https://twitter.com/emanuelebonini" target="_blank">emanuelebonini</a> by Emanuele Bonini emanuelebonini
    28 June 2024
    in Politics
    Da sinistra: Ursula von der Leyen, Kaja Kallas e Antonio Costa [foto: Wikimedia Commons]

    Da sinistra: Ursula von der Leyen, Kaja Kallas e Antonio Costa [foto: Wikimedia Commons]

    Brussels – One confirmation and two novelties for the new European term. Ursula von der Leyen (EPP – Popular) at the head of the European Commission, Antonio Costa (PES – Socialists), and Kaja Kallas (Renew – Liberals) for the Presidency of the European Council and High Representative, respectively. The summit of heads of state and government of EU member states produced the political agreement for the renewal of the new heads of the EU. Eunews reviews the nominees for the various roles, also known as ‘top jobs’.

    • Ursula von der Leyen (European Commission)

    Ursula von der Leyen, now 65, with seven children, was nominated to lead the European Commission in 2019 after the French president,
    Emmanuel Macron, scrapped the ‘spitzenkandidat‘ system, the candidate nominated by European political parties for the EU executive. The EPP had nominated Manfred Weber, the subject of vetoes paving the way for von der Leyen. For many, she was a weak name because she was little known and less experienced than others. Until then, the roles as Minister for Family (2005-2009), Labor (2009-2013), and Defense (2013-2019). She stumbled in the process of appointing her team. In negotiating with governments on the names for commissioners, Romania and Hungary produced personalities that Parliament rejected. A mishap that forced the Commission to delay taking office, and for which von der Leyen took personal and objective responsibility, having personally led the negotiations with member states. 

    Her ‘trademark’ is the European Green Deal, the broad agenda of sustainable transformation of the economic-productive model. But her tenure is marked by two major crises, the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian war in Ukraine with the resulting energy crisis. Difficult situations that she managed to juggle, not without criticism. Joint purchases of vaccines at the time of the pandemic and a control room in matters that until then had been exclusively a national competence, laying the foundations for a Health Union. And it is also she who proposes the suspension of the Stability Pact. In the face of Russian operations in Ukraine, she managed to close 14 unprecedented sanctions packages.

    • Kaja Kallas (High Representative).

    A staunch Europeanist and Atlanticist, Kaja Kallas is the first Liberal to serve as EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy, having written a page of national political history by becoming, in 2021, the first woman to serve as Prime Minister. Estonian, 47, is the daughter of Siim, who was EU Commissioner for Transport in the second Barroso Commission after serving as head of government. She followed in her father’s footsteps, founding the Estonian Reform Party (RE) in 1994, of which Kaja became leader in 2018. A post she has never left to this day. 

    She got her law degree in 1999, later specializing in European law. Then, management training at the Estonian Business School before jumping into politics. First elected to the national parliament, from 2014 to 2018, she sat in the Committee on Budgets and Industry of the European Parliament. An experience that also sees her serving as Vice President of the EU-Ukraine Parliamentary Association Committee. The Russian war in Ukraine in 2022 revives Kallas’ Europeanism and Atlanticism, becoming one of the loudest voices in calling for and reiterating full and unconditional support for Kyiv. First, she urges partners to provide defense weapons, then fighter planes. She can change her political agenda on the run, canceling the Nordstream2 gas pipeline project, which until then was regarded as geopolitically strategic. For his openly anti-Russian positions, she ends up on the Kremlin’s blacklist and on February 13 of this year, she on the wanted list. This makes Kallas the first head of government to be placed on the register by the Russian authorities, thus bolstering her image.

    • Antonio Costa (President of the European Council)

    Socialist, 62, a great passion for Benfica and an even greater one for politics. Member of Parliament, MEP, mayor, minister, and Prime Minister: Antonio Costa is a longtime politician who, in his various capacities, has navigated the European Union far and wide. His career has made him a frequent visitor to the EU Councils in its different formats. Minister of Justice (1999-2002), Minister of Interior (2005-2007), and then Prime Minister (2014-2024). A stint in the European Parliament (2004-2005), of which he was Vice-President. A convinced Europeanist, he witnessed the great enlargement of 2004.

     He was not in government; he was mayor of Lisbon when his country asked for a bailout program from the EFSF bailout fund (2011) when the euro crisis reached the Iberian Peninsula. But then, as head of government, he is called upon to not-so-easy management of the COVID-19 crisis. During the summer of 2017, he called on the EU and its civil defense service to manage the fire emergency, in effect helping give a concrete demonstration of what the European Union means. He resigned at the end of 2023 after allegations of bribery hit some of his ministers and even him (but, apparently, it was a namesake). His experience led him to enjoy the political esteem of colleagues and opponents alike.

    English version by the Translation Service of Withub
    Tags: european institutionseuropean summitseuropean24

    Related Posts

    Kallas Metsola von der Leyen Istituzioni Ue
    Director's Point of View

    Union “top jobbers” try to be a team this time

    28 June 2024
    Politics

    EU leaders reach agreement on top jobs. Commission to von der Leyen, Council to Costa, Kallas High Representative

    27 June 2024
    map visualization
    Flourish logoA Flourish map
    Oliver Röpke

    INTERVIEW / Oliver Röpke (EESC): ‘Social dialogue a necessary condition for enlargement’

    by Francesco Bortoletto bortoletto_f
    17 July 2025

    The president of the European Economic and Social Committee explained to Eunews the importance of fully involving civil society in...

    germania uk

    Germany and the UK sign a friendship treaty committing them to defend each other

    by Simone De La Feld @SimoneDeLaFeld1
    17 July 2025

    It is the first bilateral agreement between the two countries: in addition to military assistance, Berlin and London promise cooperation...

    Stéphane Séjourné

    ERAP: new MMF an important step towards a better Europe

    by Sebastian Robustelli Balfour
    17 July 2025

    The European Research Promotion Agency commends the European Commission for "the commitment and vision shown in placing research and innovation...

    Four new infringement procedures, the EU won’t let the Meloni government go on holiday

    by Emanuele Bonini emanuelebonini
    17 July 2025

    Irregularities in taxation regimes and non-transposition in banking and hydrogen: the Commission's tough punch against Italy, against which it adopts...

    • Director’s Point of View
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Opinions
    • About us
    • Contacts
    • Privacy Policy
    • Cookie policy

    Eunews is a registered newspaper
    Press Register of the Court of Turin n° 27


     

    Copyright © 2025 - WITHUB S.p.a., Via Rubens 19 - 20148 Milan
    VAT number: 10067080969 - ROC registration number n.30628
    Fully paid-up share capital 50.000,00€

     

    No Result
    View All Result
    • it ITA
    • en ENG
    • Politics
    • Newsletter
    • World politics
    • Business
    • General News
    • Defence & Security
    • Net & Tech
    • Agrifood
    • Altre sezioni
      • European Agenda
      • Culture
      • Diritti
      • Energy
      • Green Economy
      • Gallery
      • Finance & Insurance
      • Industry & Markets
      • Letters to the Editor
      • Media
      • Mobility & Logistics
      • News
      • Opinions
      • Sports
    • Director's Point of View
    • L’Europa come non l’avete mai ascoltata
    • Draghi Report
    • Eventi
    • Eunews Newsletter

    No Result
    View All Result
    • it ITA
    • en ENG
    • Politics
    • Newsletter
    • World politics
    • Business
    • General News
    • Defence & Security
    • Net & Tech
    • Agrifood
    • Altre sezioni
      • European Agenda
      • Culture
      • Diritti
      • Energy
      • Green Economy
      • Gallery
      • Finance & Insurance
      • Industry & Markets
      • Letters to the Editor
      • Media
      • Mobility & Logistics
      • News
      • Opinions
      • Sports
    • Director's Point of View
    • L’Europa come non l’avete mai ascoltata
    • Draghi Report
    • Eventi
    • Eunews Newsletter

    Attention

    We value your privacy
    We and our 1507 partners store and/or access information on a device, such as cookies and process personal data, such as unique identifiers and standard information sent by a device for personalised advertising and content, advertising and content measurement, audience research and services development. With your permission we and our 1507 partners may use precise geolocation data and identification through device scanning. You may click to consent to our and our 1507 partners’ processing as described above. Alternatively you may access more detailed information and change your preferences before consenting or to refuse consenting. Please note that some processing of your personal data may not require your consent, but you have a right to object to such processing. Your preferences will apply to this website only. You can change your preferences or withdraw your consent at any time by returning to this site and clicking the privacy policy button at the bottom of the webpage.