EU summit: Scholz relies on agreement on top posts
The Chancellor defended at the same time the principles agreed upon by him in the personnel package. The former Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa from the Social Democrats is supposedly going to be the new EU-President of the Council, and the liberal Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas is to be the new EU Commissioner for Foreign Affairs. "These are, in my opinion, good appointments and clear decisions for a good European future," emphasized Scholz.
The Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had criticized the procedure for assigning EU top jobs sharply beforehand. In Europe, there is an "oligarchy," she said about the agreements between Scholz and five further heads of state and government in the name of the European People's Party (EPP), the Social Democrats, and the Liberals. These parties are again the majority after the European elections in early June.
Facing the gains of the far-right parties, Meloni demands more influence for her party group. Her European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) faction hopes to overtake the Liberals as the third strongest force in the European Parliament.
For the personnel package, a qualified majority of 15 EU countries is necessary at the summit, representing 65 percent of the European population. It is considered almost impossible that Meloni or other critics can still block the decision.
It could be more difficult for von der Leyen to obtain the absolute majority of MEP votes in the European Parliament. The vote is scheduled at the earliest in the first session in mid-July.
- Chancellor Olaf Scholz defended the principles agreed upon in the personnel package, which includes António Costa, a former Portuguese Prime Minister from the Social Democrats, being the next EU-President of the Council, and Kaja Kallas, the liberal Estonian Prime Minister, being the new EU Commissioner for Foreign Affairs.
- Scholz stated these appointments are good decisions for a better European future.
- Despite this, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had previously criticized the procedure for assigning EU top jobs, labeling the agreements between Scholz and other heads of state and government as an "oligarchy."
- Meloni, whose European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) faction aims to overtake the Liberals as the third strongest force in the European Parliament, demanded more influence for her party group.
- For the personnel package to be approved at the EU summit, a qualified majority of 15 EU countries representing 65 percent of the European population is necessary.
- It is considered almost impossible that Meloni or other critics can still block the decision for the personnel package.
- However, it could be more challenging for Ursula von der Leyen to obtain the absolute majority of MEP votes in the European Parliament at the vote, scheduled at the earliest in the first session in mid-July.
