Although the agreement seemed close to sweet, in the end there was no white smoke. The heads of State and Government of the 27 have failed this Monday in their first attempt to agree on the new distribution of senior positions of the EU for the 2024-2029 legislature. The negotiation has derailed after the demand of the European People’s Party (PPE) of a greater share of power, relying on its resounding victory on 9-J. The solution is postponed until the European Council on June 27 and 28.
“It has been a good conversation that is going in the right direction, but there is no agreement at the moment,” said the outgoing president of the European Council, the Belgian. Charles Michel, at the end of the leaders’ dinner, which lasted until midnight. Although he was a negotiator for the European socialists, the president of the Government, Pedro Sanchezhas avoided the press both upon his arrival and at the end of the summit.
Despite the fiasco, all the sources consulted assure that in any case the solution “is close.” AND Nobody questions the four favorites for the new EU leadership. Ursula von der Leyen he would repeat a second term at the head of the European Commission; former portuguese prime minister Antonio Costa he would stay with the presidency of the European Council; and the Prime Minister of Estonia, Kaja Kallaswill replace Josep Borrell as High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. The popular Maltese Roberta Metsola He will continue two and a half more years at the head of the European Parliament.
[El PPE reclama más poder en la UE tras su victoria electoral y complica el reparto de altos cargos]
The negotiators from the different political families have held several restricted meetings to try to bring positions closer together. Sanchez and the german Olaf Scholz they represent the socialists; while the Polish Donald Tusk and the greek Kyriakos Mitsotakis They act as popular spokespersons; and the french Emmanuel Macron and the dutch Mark Rutte They act in the name of liberals. The Italian Giorgia Meloni and the Hungarian Viktor Orbán (the two main representatives of the radical right who are not active in the ‘grand coalition’) have also met on their own.
“The six negotiators have agreed on the three names (Von der Leyen, Costa and Kallas). It is more of a search for balance between the EPP and the socialists which has prevented an agreement from being reached this Monday,” explained a senior European diplomat. “There are clear frontrunners, but it has not been possible to close the agreement. We must continue negotiating, there is still time,” says another diplomat.
The EPP is not satisfied with the presidency of the Commission – the position with the most power – and that of the European Parliament during the first half of the legislature. It also demands limit António Costa’s term to two and a half years, so that from June 2027 the position passes into the hands of a popular leader. “As the clear winner of the European elections, the EPP should politically lead the EU,” the Croatian Prime Minister wrote in Andrej Plenkovicto whom the authorship of this idea is attributed.
Ursula von der Leyen and Kaja Kallas (in the background) talk at the beginning of the European leaders’ dinner this Monday
The popular ones allege that they are underrepresented in senior EU positions and they boast their resounding victory in the European elections. Elections in which they obtained 190 of the 720 seats at stake, compared to 136 for the socialists and 80 for the liberals. They give as an example that the presidency of the European Investment Bank (EIB) the socialists have kept it with Nadia Calvinowhile the next NATO Secretary General will probably be Mark Ruttea liberal.
The Socialists interpret that the EPP’s request to occupy the presidency of the European Council during the second half of the mandate responds to a maximum negotiating strategy to increase the price of the agreement. Sánchez and Scholz do not agree to limit Costa’s mandate in advance. And they reply that the popular ones also control other prominent positions such as the presidency of the European Central Bank (with Christine Lagarde) or the direction of the International Monetary Fund (with Kristalina Georgieva).
[Von der Leyen, Costa y Kallas: 3 piezas que encajan para el sudoku de los altos cargos de la UE]
Socialists and liberals maintain that although the EPP has won the elections, The distribution of senior positions must have the support of the ‘grand coalition’ to get ahead. And to do this it needs to respect the balance between the different political families, in addition to the geographical and gender balance.
“It is important that this be decided quickly. Because we live in difficult times and it is necessary to know what is going to happen from now on in Europe,” said Chancellor Scholz upon his arrival at the meeting.
“We are still in the middle of a war in Europe. We have many challenges ahead, especially in immigration matters and climate change. And we still need a stronger and more socially balanced Europe in the future. With all these challenges, I think it is important that we make a decision as soon as possible,” he defended. Mette Frederiksen. The Danish prime minister has been ruled out as an alternative to Costa for the presidency of the European Council (her name was in the pools.
Ursula von der Leyen will repeat a second term as head of the Commission
For his part, the Dutch Prime Minister, Mark Ruttehas been convinced that Von der Leyen will achieve a second term. “He has done an incredible job. If we take the coronavirus crisis as an example, she demonstrated her leadership capacity. But also now with Ukraine and all the other issues she’s been involved in.”
Despite being the PP negotiator, Tusk has announced that he will support the liberal Kaja Kallas as the new head of community diplomacy. “She understands the Ukrainian and Russian realities very well and represents the position that Poland would take.” The Polish Prime Minister has also asked for clarifications about the “legal context” of Costa, who had to resign last fall when her name appeared in a corruption scandal. Although it has not been closed, the case has been deflated and the former Portuguese prime minister is not accused of anything.
The Spanish delegation has reiterated its full support for Costa for the presidency of the European Council. In addition to the socialist family, he will represent the southern countries. “Because of his personality and experience he could do a great job”, explain government sources. “I support António Costa because he has a lot of experience and a lot of wisdom,” explained the Slovenian Prime Minister, Robert Golobwho belongs to the liberal family.
The Portuguese Prime Minister, the Christian Democrat Luís Montenegro, has also “unequivocally” supported Costa’s candidacy, even though he belongs to a rival political family. “Meets all the conditions”he insisted.
“When a decision is not made in the EU, anything can happen. But I don’t think what happened in 2019 will happen again, when there was a big tombola and everything was at stake for three days. Now everything is much clearer“says the Dutchman Rutte.
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