a few seconds agoKallas instead of Borrell, Scholz expects agreement this week on three EU leadership positions
Periskopi(2 years ago)
(2 years ago)German Chancellor Olaf Scholz urged other leaders to agree on leading EU positions at a summit this week, reports the Associated Press. Three main political groups have agreed that German conservative Ursula von der Leyeen should receive a second term as European Commission president, while former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio [...]
Three main political groups have agreed that German conservative Ursula von der Leyeen should receive a second mandate as president of the European Commission, while former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa, socialist, must take the lead in the European Council, the forum where the 27 member states are represented. He would succeed Charles Michelin in leading EU summits.
The proposal would make Estonia Prime Minister Kaya Kallas a staunch supporter of Ukraine and liberal, chief EU diplomat, succeeding Josep Borrell in this position.
Now it needs the support of EU leaders, and Von der Leyeen will have to face a secret vote in the European Parliament.
“From my perspective, these proposals constitute a good formation and are clear decisions for a good European future”, Scholz told lawmakers in Berlin before an EU summit Thursday and Friday.
Scholz said he hopes much that at this summit he will agree to the bloc's main posts.
“We cannot afford a stalemate in these difficult times; our citizens expect no debate, but quick work in European institutions”, he added.
His stance is in contrast with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Melon, who said the agreement seemed to ignore voters' wishes in European elections last month, which produced strong support for rightist parties.
