{"id":370256,"date":"2024-06-17T12:25:41","date_gmt":"2024-06-17T10:25:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.eunews.it\/2024\/06\/17\/nomine-ue-commissione-consiglio-informale\/"},"modified":"2024-06-21T14:06:59","modified_gmt":"2024-06-21T12:06:59","slug":"eu-nomination-process-kicks-off-leaders-of-the-twenty-seven-in-brussels-to-reach-an-agreement-as-early-as-today","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.eunews.it\/en\/2024\/06\/17\/eu-nomination-process-kicks-off-leaders-of-the-twenty-seven-in-brussels-to-reach-an-agreement-as-early-as-today\/","title":{"rendered":"EU nomination process kicks off. Leaders of the Twenty-Seven in Brussels to reach an agreement as early as today"},"content":{"rendered":"

Brussels – It is the\u00a0top jobs day<\/em>, which\u00a0could become decisive for the next five years of legislature in the European Union. When everything is ready in Brussels for the informal summit of the heads of state and government of the 27 member countries, high-level EU appointments to the Union’s main institutions are taking on increasingly defined contours with the\u00a0passing of each hour<\/strong>, with the scenario of a rapid division\u00a0of the highest offices just a few days since\u00a0the European elections never more concrete.<\/p>\n

\"Roberta<\/a>
From left: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Parliament President Roberta Metsola<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Beginning late this afternoon (June 17), EU leaders will meet at the Europa Palace to take\u00a0initial stock of the situation\u00a0after the June 6-9 elections<\/a> – together with the President\u00a0of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen<\/strong>, and of the Parliament, Roberta Metsola<\/strong> – before the actual informal dinner at which the EU nomination package will be on the table, which for days has consisted<\/a> of a shortlist of four names for four posts: those of von der Leyen and Metsola for confirmation in their respective EU institutions<\/strong>, that of Portugal’s former Prime Minister, Ant\u00f3nio Costa, for the European Council<\/strong>, and that of Estonia’s premier, Kaja Kallas, as EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy<\/strong>. After last week’s controversy<\/a> over the attempt by the acting European Council president, Charles Michel<\/strong>, to exclude the EU Commission’s number one from the informal summit altogether – as she is also the main candidate to succeed herself – von der Leyen (with Metsola) will attend the first session of work, then leave the table when the 27 leaders are to talk about her position as well.<\/p>\n

\u00a0If confirmed at today’s informal meeting<\/a>, the package of EU nominations – two to the European People’s Party (EPP), one to the Party of European Socialism (PES), and one to the Liberals of Renew Europe – will pass to the European Council scheduled for Thursday and Friday of next week (June 27-28) for official appointments<\/strong>. Only the election of the Presidency of the European Parliament is the exclusive responsibility of the European Parliament<\/a>, while that of the European Commission will also have to go through the confirmation of the plenary session, where\u00a0there is already a clear majority<\/a> between Popular, Social Democrats, and Liberals (and with the possibility of entry of the Greens). Meanwhile,\u00a0the\u00a0first indications have already arrived that a general agreement among the Twenty-Seven could materialize as early as today’s summit<\/strong>, paving the way for one of the fastest-ever EU nomination processes.<\/p>\n

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\"Von<\/a>
From left: European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, French President, Emmanuel Macron, European Council President, Charles Michel, and Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/figure>\n

“I think we can move forward effectively. T<\/strong>hat’s what I hope. I hope we can come to an agreement quickly,” said\u00a0the French president, Emmanuel Macron<\/strong>, after an initial confrontation at last week’s G7 Summit<\/a> in Puglia, stressing, however, that “it’s a discussion\u00a0among\u00a0the Twenty-Seven.” The Elysee tenant, who on the eve of the European elections was the biggest unknown for von der Leyen’s confirmation, now faces campaigning for the snap\u00a0elections in France on June 30 and does not seem to have any interest in a delay\u00a0of EU nominations. In this regard,\u00a0Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni raised<\/strong> – also on the sidelines of the G7 – some doubts about the timing<\/strong>, calling “common sense” the possibility of waiting for the outcome of the French vote before the decision on the heads\u00a0of the EU institutions. In any case, Macron will always be the interlocutor at the European Council table and for Italy, the postponement “is not a prejudicial issue,” the Italian leader reassured. Opening decisively, however, is the German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz<\/strong>, who told <\/a>a group of journalists at the end of the proceedings in Fasano that “there are all the signs that von der Leyen will be able to serve a second term<\/strong>,” particularly given the fact that decisions in Brussels on EU appointments must be made “very quickly” and “in one go” to “enable the European Union to act” in an uncertain and threatening global context.<\/p>\n