The Twenty-Seven do not want to give the impression that they are going to spend weeks, after the European elections on June 9, struggling to choose the next presidents of the Commission and the European Council as well as the future head of the community diplomacy. Between the war in Ukraine, the breakthrough of the extreme right in Europe, the prospect of seeing Donald Trump return to the White House, the economic decline of the Union, global warming and the offensive by China and the United States to to establish themselves in the technologies of the future, they cannot afford a new psychodrama.
The European heads of state and government therefore prepared their meeting on Monday June 17 in Brussels meticulously, so as not to leave any room for improvisation. European citizens would appreciate little if “Politicians here in Brussels discuss for weeks who is going to do what when there are so many challenges”, noted the head of the Irish government, Simon Harris. “It is important that decisions are made quickly because we live in difficult times”agrees the German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz.
And yet, even if they claim to be close, the Twenty-Seven did not reach a formal agreement on Monday evening. “It has to simmer”but “I think we’re not far away”, confides the French President, Emmanuel Macron, who is banking on an agreement within ten days, when the leaders will meet once again in Brussels. In fact, the favorites are well identified and supported both by the right of the European People’s Party (EPP) and by the social democrats (S&D) and the liberals of Renew, who form a coalition in the European Parliament.
Starting with Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the Commission, who is seeking to be reappointed. “An excellent candidate”assures the Dutch Prime Minister, Mark Rutte, who is delighted with the “emerging consensus” on all future appointments. While the EPP strengthened its position as the leading political group in the European Parliament, on June 9, Angela Merkel’s former minister is legitimate.
EPP offensive
In this context, the S&D, who form the second political force in the Strasbourg hemicycle and have held up rather well at the polls, are demanding the presidency of the Council, which they wish to see go to the former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa. The EPP and the S&D are also used to sharing the presidency of the European Parliament, which changes mid-term. The Maltese Roberta Metsola, the current holder of the post, could therefore stay two and a half more years in office, before retiring in favor of a socialist.
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