EU leaders agree on top officials who will be the face of the world’s largest trading bloc

Ursula von der Leyen, Antonio Costa and Kaja Kallas will hold key positions at the EU’s powerful executive branch – the European Commission

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EU leaders have formally nominated Ursula von der Leyen for a second term as president of the European Commission. Photo: AFP

Published: 9:23am, 28 Jun 2024Updated: 3:16pm, 28 Jun 2024

European Union leaders signed off on a trio of top appointments for their shared political institutions, reinstalling German conservative Ursula von der Leyen as president of the European Commission for another five years.

At the side of von der Leyen, who heads the EU’s executive branch, would be two new faces: Antonio Costa of Portugal as European Council president and Estonia’s Kaja Kallas as the top diplomat of the world’s largest trading bloc.

“Mission Accomplished,” outgoing EU Council President Charles Michel told reporters after chairing a summit of the bloc’s leaders on Thursday, as von der Leyen and Kallas accompanied him at a joint a news conference. Costa took part via video-link.

Von der Leyen expressed her gratitude for a shot at a second term of office, saying: “I’m very honoured and I’m delighted to share this moment”.

Estonia’s Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, outgoing EU Council President Charles Michel and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen. Photo: AFP

Kallas, who as the EU’s top diplomat will lead the bloc’s foreign and security policy with Russia’s war on Ukraine in its third year, noted that “there is war in Europe, also growing instability globally. My aim is definitely to work for the European unity”.