Ursula von der Leyen (in the middle) is nominated by the EU's heads of state and government for a new term as President of the European Commission. Estonia's Prime Minister, Kaja Kallas (back row to the right), becomes the EU's foreign affairs chief. The last top position in the EU puzzle goes to Portugal's former Prime Minister, Antonio Costa. He becomes the new EU President succeeding Charles Michel. Photo: Geert Vanden Wijngaert/Ritzau Scanpix
Ursula von der Leyen nominated for EU top job
EU leaders at the Brussels summit agreed on the EU’s top positions for the next five years. Ursula von der Leyen is set to remain as the European Commission’s President but requires a majority in the EU Parliament vote on July 18. Antonio Costa is suggested to become EU President, and Kaja Kallas is nominated as the EU’s foreign chief. There were concerns over Italy’s PM Giorgia Meloni influencing the distribution, but a pre-summit majority was reached without her. Meloni’s party’s votes may still be crucial for von der Leyen’s candidacy. Meloni critiqued the agreement made by the central EU Parliament political groups and hinted at abstaining from voting on von der Leyen’s term while opposing Kallas and Costa’s appointments.