But the current president of the Council, Charles Michel, told reporters around midnight that there was “no agreement,” insisting that leaders recognised their “duty” to reach a decision by the end of June.
“They have to work very hard to ensure that there will be an agreement,” Michel said.
Diplomats had earlier expressed hope a political deal could be reached on Monday in time for the formal EU summit on 27-28 June. Support for a second term for Ursula von der Leyen as European Commission has widened, whilst former Portuguese premier António Costa has emerged as a favourite for the European Council presidency, and Estonian prime minister Kaja Kallas for the top diplomatic role of High Representative.
Earlier in the night, the centre-right European People’s Party (EPP) revealed a hidden card up its sleeve, bidding to split the next two 2.5-year terms of the European Council between a Socialist and one of their own.
With von der Leyen, the EPP’s lead candidate, in pole position to secure a second term at the EU executive’s helm, and Roberta Metsola – also of the EPP – favourite to continue as the president of the European Parliament, the hypothetical situation would see the EPP in three of the four top jobs in Brussels at a given time.
Catch up with Monday’s informal summit in the blog below.
Source link : https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2024/06/17/live-updates-eu-leaders-meet-to-discuss-top-jobs-will-von-der-leyen-be-reappointed
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Publish date : 2024-06-17 19:07:30
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