EU Leaders Nominate Ursula von der Leyen for Second Term, Select New Foreign Affairs Chief and Summit Chair

European Union leaders have nominated Ursula von der Leyen to continue as the head of the European Commission for a second five-year term. This decision is part of a broader reshuffling of key EU positions, reflecting the bloc’s ongoing commitment to centrist, pro-EU leadership.

Joining von der Leyen in top EU roles, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas has been nominated as the EU’s next foreign affairs chief. Additionally, former Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa has been chosen to chair EU summits. These nominations underscore the EU’s inclination towards experienced leaders from diverse political backgrounds: von der Leyen from Germany’s centre-right, Costa a socialist, and Kallas a liberal.

The European Parliament is set to vote on these nominations next month, a crucial step in formalizing their appointments.

However, the nomination process was not without contention. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, representing a hard-right faction, expressed her dissatisfaction with the selections. Before the summit, she criticized the nominations for disregarding the electoral successes of hard-right parties, including her own, in the recent European Parliament elections. Reflecting her stance, Meloni abstained from voting for von der Leyen and opposed the nominations of both Costa and Kallas.

Von der Leyen’s renomination signals continuity and stability at the helm of the European Commission. Her first term has been marked by significant challenges, including navigating the EU through the COVID-19 pandemic and addressing complex geopolitical issues. Her leadership in these areas likely played a key role in her renomination.

Kaja Kallas’s nomination as the foreign affairs chief is notable as she brings a wealth of experience from her tenure as Estonia’s prime minister, where she has been a strong advocate for EU unity and security. António Costa’s selection as the summit chair underscores his extensive political experience and his role in fostering economic and social stability in Portugal.

As the European Parliament prepares to vote on these nominations, the decisions made at the summit highlight the EU’s strategic direction and the leadership style it intends to pursue in the coming years. The blend of political ideologies represented by these nominees also reflects an effort to balance diverse perspectives within the EU’s leadership framework.