Charles Michel: "Hopes for a quick deal faded on Monday evening"

At the meeting on the evening of June 17, the leaders EU did not agree on leadership positions. The discussion is likely to continue at the next meeting on June 27-28. Greece has a key role in tough negotiations that will “secure” the top EU positions.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis plays a central role as negotiator for the European Parliament's largest group, tells CNN Greece.

European Union leaders failed to agree on candidates for top EU positions at their meeting on Monday evening., in particular, about the second term of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. About it writes Politico, citing sources among EU diplomats

As three EU diplomats told the publication, despite the assurances of French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz about approaching agreements, EU leaders did not support Ursula von der Leyen for another term as President of the European Commission. The publication notes:

“High hopes for an agreement on top positions were dashed when heads of state and government clashed over appointments.”

After the leaders' dinner, European Council President Charles Michel told reporters:

“Today there is no agreement.”

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a European diplomat said that although the negotiators had agreed on three names, the leaders would continue discussions later, likely at their next meeting on June 27-28.

Politico writes that After the European elections, a consensus quickly emerged regarding the election of von der Leyen for a second term as President of the European Commission, António Costa as President of the European Council, Roberta Metsola as President of the European Parliament and Kaia Kallas as Foreign Minister.

A number of European leaders have stressed the need for continuity in recent weeks, given Russia's war in Ukraine and the potential return of former US President Donald Trump. The publication notes:

But hopes of a quick deal evaporated on Monday evening when the European People's Party, which won the European Parliament elections, demanded more concessions and more powers among senior officials. As expected, the EPP wanted to reappoint von der Leyen and Metsola, who belong to the political family. In addition, she proposed that the Socialists split the term of the President of the European Council into two 2.5-year periods, and the EPP would receive one of them. This, in turn, angered the Socialists and Democrats (S&D), who were hoping to get the job. for Costa. And soon after the negotiations stalled, the search for those responsible began.”

One EU official said:

“Part of it was the arrogance of the EPP. By asking for a mandate of only 2.5 years, it created a huge perception problem [социалистов]who would find themselves in a difficult situation. The EPP did not play well. This will be difficult to resolve.”

He also noted that Michel was not helpful in the discussions: “Instead of helping to find an agreement, he continued to raise other issues.”

One of the reasons for the failure of the discussion was that Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was unhappy with attempts by other EU leaders to exclude her from the negotiations, several EU diplomats said. According to one of the officials, Meloni “challenged the type of approach to the discussion”, she began “with the assumption that today's informal meeting was to be a moment to discuss what to do in light of the signals from the European elections, and then, from this starting point, start a discussion about names for top positions, and not the other way around.”

The leaders' dinner ended without an agreement, as European Council President Charles Michel confirmed in his statements:

“It is clear that we have two decisions to make in June: one on the political cycle, taking into account the results of the European elections, and one on the strategic agenda.”

Shortly after 1:30 am, the Greek Prime Minister boarded a government plane to return to Athens, with government sources stressing:

“There is no argument that these three people (Ursula von der Leyen, Antonio Costa, Kaja Callas) are the favourites. We look forward to decisions from the European Council next week.”

According to CNN Greece, Mitsotakis and Tusk had previously been fully briefed by Ursula von der Leyen late Monday about what happened at the dinner, as the commission president left while difficult negotiations were underway. Charles Michel remained in the room.

The Greek Prime Minister insisted at the summit that the European People's Party is the winner of the European elections held from June 6 to 9 in European countries, and rightly claims to continue Ursula von der Leyen's presidency of the European Commission.

As Kyriakos Mitsotakis emphasized, the issues of great importance concern not only the distribution of seats, but also the most important policies that the European Union will have to implement in the next five years. Citizens spoke out not only in Greece but also in Europe, sending a loud signal to Macron and Scholz.

The Greek Prime Minister, banking on the election of Ursula von der Leyen to the European Commission, is trying to shape developments so that in the next five years more attention will be paid to the competitiveness of the European economy, immigration issues, issues of common defense policy, and how the transition to green the economy will not ultimately harm Greek farmers, livestock breeders and fishermen.

Athens is pressing ahead with its proposal to control multinationals to lower final prices, create a new recovery fund to support businesses, a strict immigration policy that also affects Greece's borders, and a public defense fund that would free up huge resources for Greece.

EU leaders will meet again in Brussels on June 27-28, hoping to reach agreement on the bloc's leaders before the European Parliament vote on the next Commission president, scheduled for mid-July.

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