Information
European Union leaders will meet informally in Brussels to discuss key appointments within the bloc, focusing on the roles of the president of the European Commission, the president of the European Council, and the high representative for foreign policy. This meeting occurs in the wake of recent European Parliament elections that saw gains by the far right, prompting snap elections in France and causing unease across the EU. The discussions are crucial, given the political shifts and the need for strategic alignment within the bloc.
Ursula von der Leyen, the current president of the European Commission, is favoured to retain her position, supported by her party’s success in recent elections. However, she will need a qualified majority from member countries to secure her reappointment. Antonio Costa, former Portuguese Prime Minister, is the leading candidate for the European Council president despite a recent corruption probe. For the high representative role, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, known for her strong stance against the Kremlin, is a top contender, symbolizing support for the EU’s eastern members amid Russian aggression. Leaders will confirm these choices at the upcoming EU summit and also discuss the bloc’s legislative agenda for the next five years, focusing on values, defence, and economic competitiveness.
Source: AP, AFP
So what
It appears likely that this new EU parliament will look quite different to the ones that have come before it. Due to the rise in right-leaning parties being elected, the parliament will likely have to cater more towards their political points of view. Even though they had already been looking to take a stronger stance on topics such as immigration, this swing in elections will likely push these matters further. Unfortunately, it is also possible that these elections may damage the EU’s support of Ukraine as a number of these parties are pro-Russian or sympathetic to the Russian cause for one reason or another.
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