European leaders to confirm Von der Leyen, Costa, and Kallas for top EU positions

European Union leaders are set to approve Ursula von der Leyen, António Costa, and Kaja Kallas as the heads of the EU's top institutions, following an agreement by the three mainstream political groups in the European Parliament. Von der Leyen, a conservative, is proposed for a second term as European Commission president, Costa is nominated to succeed European Council President Charles Michel, and Kallas is set to become the bloc's top diplomat. While the EU leaders decide on Michel's appointment, von der Leyen and Kallas will also require approval from lawmakers. The recent European Parliament election saw a shift to the right, impacting mainstream parties in France and Germany, but the three main groups retained a majority of seats. The leaders' selection of candidates is expected to align with the election results, as per EU treaties, distributing positions among the winners. The failure to agree on top jobs at a previous meeting led to criticism from Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, whose far-right group is now the third-largest in the European Parliament. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk clarified that the agreement among mainstream groups aimed to facilitate the process and not exclude Meloni, emphasizing the importance of her involvement in the decision-making. The leaders have the authority to nominate the next president of the European Commission, responsible for shaping EU policy on various crucial matters. The upcoming two-day summit in Brussels is anticipated to finalize the appointments of von der Leyen, Costa, and Kallas, despite objections from the far right. The trio's roles in shaping policies for the EU, the world's largest trading bloc, will be crucial in navigating challenges such as the climate crisis and the shared budget. The complexity of power division within the EU underscores the significance of these appointments in steering the future direction of the union and addressing the diverse needs and expectations of its member states and citizens.