European leaders hold talks for top EU posts, Ursula von der Leyen expected to get 2nd term as EU chief

European leaders gathered in Brussels on Monday to discuss the top posts of the European Union (EU) after the European Parliament’s elections.

Even though current EU chief Ursula von der Leyen is expected to get anther term, no agreement could be reached on day one of the talks. The negotiations can take up to weeks.

The European People’s Party (EPP) of Von der Leyen emerged as the single-largest bloc in the EU elections earlier this month. The elections saw right-wing parties make gains across the EU member-states, with Germany’s AfD, Italy’s Fdl, and France’s RN parties making headlines for their performances.

Von der Leyen’s EPP bloc comprises centrist to centre-right parties. It has previously been reported that she could get support from the right-wing bloc European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) led by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

A decision over the next EU chief and other top posts of the bloc is expected by the end of the month.

Who are contenders for top EU posts?

All eyes on Europe are on who will get the prized top four positions in the EU.

Von der Leyen is expected to be the next European Commission’s chief.

Politico has reported that the following as likely occupants for the other three top posts:

• António Costa from Portugal as European Council President

• Roberta Metsola from Malta as the European Parliament’s boss

• Kaja Kallas from Estonia as EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

Why did Monday’s talk not produce a result?

French President Emmanuel Macron, who played a key role in brokering the talks held on Monday, was hopeful that the meeting of European leaders would produce an in-principle agreement.

Multiple reasons, however, held any agreement back, according to Politico.

The report said that there was a disagreement over the terms of the appointment of European Counci’s chief. It said that while the EPP wanted the five-year term divided between Costa and its own candidate, Costa’s Socialists and Democrats (S&D) was irked at the suggestions.

The report also said that Meloni was unhappy over the negotiations as she felt being left out of important conversations.

An official familiar with the discussions said that Meloni “contested the type of approach to the discussion”. The official further said that she started “from the assumption that today’s informal meeting should have represented the moment in which to discuss what to do in light of the signals from the European elections and then, from that starting point, to begin the discussion on the names for the top jobs, and not vice versa”.