Approval Vote in Parliament Next Month, Majority Required
European Union (EU) leaders have officially agreed on the reappointment of Ursula von der Leyen as the current President of the European Commission. As she has been confirmed as the next Commission President candidate, von der Leyen will undergo a confirmation vote in the Parliament next month.
The EU announced that on the 27th (local time), during the first day of the EU summit held in Brussels, Belgium, they agreed on the official nomination of the current Commission President von der Leyen as the next EU Commission President candidate. Previously, an informal meeting among the leaders of the 27 EU member states held right after the European Parliament elections failed to reach an agreement.
During this meeting as well, Giorgia Meloni, Prime Minister of Italy, abstained from voting on von der Leyen, and Viktor Orb?n, Prime Minister of Hungary, cast a dissenting vote. It was reported that they argued the need to reflect the public opinion confirmed in the recent European Parliament elections.
For von der Leyen to secure reappointment, she must obtain at least 361 votes, a majority of the 720 seats, in the upcoming European Parliament plenary confirmation vote scheduled for next month. If reappointed, her second five-year term will begin on November 1. The Guardian reported, "Von der Leyen became the first woman to lead the EU Commission in its 68-year history in 2019, but even then she barely secured support," reflecting the atmosphere.
Alongside this, the EU nominated Kaja Kallas, Prime Minister of Estonia, as the candidate for High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. Like the EU Commission President and other Commission candidates, the High Representative, who is part of the Commission, must also pass the European Parliament hearings and confirmation vote.
Ant?nio Costa, former Prime Minister of Portugal, was appointed as the permanent President of the European Council. Unlike the current President Charles Michel, the incoming EU summit President, who will take office in December, does not require a separate confirmation vote. In a statement, former Prime Minister Costa said, "I will take on the role of the next EU summit President with a strong sense of mission," adding, "I will dedicate myself to promoting unity among all 27 member states and advancing strategic agendas."
Meanwhile, on the occasion of the summit, the EU signed a security agreement with Ukraine. The agreement includes provisions that the EU will continue to finance arms support for Ukraine over the next ten years, maintain military training, and strengthen efforts to develop Ukraine’s defense industry. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the EU headquarters to sign the agreement and subsequently visited the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) headquarters, where he met with Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
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