Summary of the day
Leaders from the EU’s 27 member countries met for a first, informal discussion after the European elections to discuss how to divide the bloc’s top jobs: European Commission president, European Council president and high representative for foreign affairs.
Ahead of the talks, there was a sense that Ursula von der Leyen, the centre-right European People’s party’s lead candidate and the current Commission president, is on track to be selected for a second term.
Before the leaders’ dinner, António Costa, a socialist and former longtime Portuguese prime minister, was seen as the frontrunner for the Council job. Kaja Kallas, a liberal and the current prime minister of Estonia, was seen as the top contender for the foreign policy chief job.
A number of leaders called for a relatively quick decision. Simon Harris, Ireland’s leader, said “it is important that we bring clarity quickly to these matters.” Olaf Scholz, the German chancellor, said “it is important for a decision to be made quickly, because we are living in difficult times and it is important to know what the future holds for Europe.”
Donald Tusk, the Polish prime minister, endorsed Kallas for the high representative job. Robert Golob, the Slovenian prime minister, endorsed Costa’s candidacy for European Council president.
After hours of talks – first in smaller groups, then at a dinner with all leaders – Charles Michel, the outgoing European Council president, told reporters no agreement had been reached this evening.
Viktor Orbán, the Hungarian prime minister, criticised the discussions, writing on social media that “the will of the European people was ignored today in Brussels.”
EU leaders are scheduled to meet for a formal summit in Brussels on June 27-28.
Updated
Gitanas Nausėda, the Lithuanian president, said after the talks this evening that the EU “needs strong institutions to implement the idea of a strong, enlarged and competitive Europe.”
During the informal meeting of European Union leaders, discussed candidates to lead 🇪🇺 institutions.
— Gitanas Nausėda (@GitanasNauseda) June 17, 2024
🇪🇺 needs strong institutions to implement the idea of a strong, enlarged and competitive Europe. pic.twitter.com/SjG7FPXGtf
