EU Top Jobs: Ursula von der Leyen nominated as President of the European Commission

Media reports indicate that an agreement has been reached on key European Union (EU) positions, with Ursula von der Leyen nominated for a second term as President of the European Commission. Additionally, Kaja Kallas has been selected for the role of EU High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and António Costa is slated to become the President of the European Council. These nominations still require formal approval from EU leaders during the European Council meeting on the 27 and 28 of June 2024. 

Our Executive Director, Linda Kalcher, highlights:

"The top jobs are in safe hands with leaders that have been championing the Green Deal over the last years. Now all eyes are on the leaders to feature it more prominently in the Strategic Agenda. For Ursula von der Leyen, the hard work starts now to build a majority in the European Parliament. While the overall agreement on prioritising industry, energy and investments is there, the devil will lie in the details. She will need more than EPP, S&D and Renew for a comfortable majority, so a delicate dance is ahead for her until the vote in July."

Our Director, Neil Makaroff, emphasises:

"Ursula von der Leyen built the Green Deal to tackle Europe’s multiple crises. New challenges like China’s dominant position on clean technologies or the high cost of being dependent on gas, oil, and coal imports require her to continue the work. In the Strategic Agenda, EU leaders can give her the clear mandate to reposition the EU in the global race for net-zero industry and reindustrialise the economy. This has the potential to gather a pro-European majority in the Parliament."

Media contact: Thomas Willems | Brussels