EU Top Positions: Agreement Hinges on a Pledge for Limiting Migration (Weber's View)
EU heads are set to make key decisions in the upcoming week, including potentially extending Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's term (CDU). However, a decision was pushed back due to a lack of agreement at a recent summit.
The main condition for any EU summit agreement is that the upcoming leaders must align with the "red lines of the EPP" (European People's Party), as stated by Weber (CSU). This means a clear commitment to combat illegal immigration, strengthen EU external border protection, cooperate with origin countries, and establish a new Mediterranean pact with neighboring EU countries. Weber emphasized the importance of stopping and returning illegal migrants at the external border.
In addition to Commission President decisions, the upcoming week will also determine who will be the President of the Council. The popular choice is the former Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa. However, there are concerns within the conservative EPP that Costa, a Social Democrat, may oppose the EU asylum compromise, which includes tougher asylum regulations. The Alliance of Social Democrats finished as the second strongest force in the June 9th European Parliament election.
Read also:
- Manfred Weber, a prominent member of the European People's Party (EPP) and the Christian Social Union (CSU), has emphasized the necessity of containing migration as a key condition for any EU summit agreement.
- The EU top jobs, including the extension of Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's term (CDU), and the appointment of the President of the Council, are currently under focus at an upcoming EU summit.
- Weber has stated that the upcoming leaders should adhere to the "red lines of the EPP," which include combating illegal immigration, strengthening EU external border protection, cooperating with origin countries, and establishing a new Mediterranean pact.
- The conservative EPP has expressed concerns about the potential appointment of the former Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa as the President of the Council, due to his presumed opposition to the EU asylum compromise and its tougher asylum regulations.
- At the recent EU summit, an agreement was pushed back due to lack of alignment with the EPP's "red lines," emphasizing the EU's need to address migration and establish cooperation with origin countries.
- Despite the delay, the European People's Party, led by figures such as Weber, will continue to focus on securing an agreement that prioritizes migration containment and cooperation with neighboring EU countries at the forthcoming EU summit.
){kind=link}