European Union leaders failed to reach an agreement on top posts during a meeting on Monday evening, according to a report by Politico.
The primary point of contention was the appointment of Ursula von der Leyen for a second term as President of the European Commission.
According to three EU diplomats who spoke with Politico, despite assurances from French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, consensus was not achieved.
Charles Michel, President of the European Council, confirmed the impasse, stating, “Today, there is no agreement,” after the leaders’ dinner on Monday night.
One EU diplomat, speaking anonymously, noted that while three names were agreed upon during the talks, further discussions will likely continue at the next meeting scheduled for 27-28 June.
Following the recent European elections, a consensus quickly emerged around several candidates: Ursula von der Leyen for a second term as President of the European Commission, António Costa of Portugal as President of the European Council, Roberta Metsola of Malta as President of the European Parliament, and Kaja Kallas of Estonia as High Representative for Foreign Affairs.
In recent weeks, numerous European leaders have emphasised the need for continuity in light of the ongoing war in Ukraine and the potential return of former US President Donald Trump.
However, hopes for a swift agreement evaporated on Monday night when the European People’s Party (EPP), which won the European Parliament elections, demanded more concessions and greater influence over top positions.
Points of Contention
The EPP’s insistence on retaining von der Leyen and Metsola, both from their political family, and their proposal to split the European Council presidency term into two 2.5-year periods, with the EPP securing one of these terms, sparked frustration among the Socialists and Democrats (S&D). The S&D had anticipated securing the position for Costa. This disagreement led to a breakdown in negotiations and subsequent finger-pointing.
An EU official remarked on the EPP’s mis-step, stating, “Asking for a 2.5-year mandate created a huge perception problem [for the Socialists], putting them in a difficult position. The EPP played it badly. This will be hard to resolve.”
Additionally, Michel’s approach to the discussions was criticised for complicating the talks rather than facilitating an agreement. “Instead of helping to find a deal, he kept raising other issues,” the official said.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s dissatisfaction also contributed to the failure of the negotiations. Several diplomats reported that Meloni felt sidelined by other EU leaders during the talks. One official mentioned that Meloni challenged the approach to the discussion, suggesting that the informal meeting should have focused on the implications of the European election results before moving on to discuss specific candidates for top positions.
The EU leaders will reconvene in Brussels on 27-28 June, aiming to reach a consensus on the bloc’s leadership before the European Parliament votes on the next President of the European Commission in mid-July.
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