EPP Offers Socialist Costa Presidency of the European Council for First Half of Term
During an informal summit in Brussels on Monday, leaders of the European People’s Party (EPP) have proposed Portuguese socialist António Costa as the next president of the European Council. However, this offer comes with a condition: limiting his term to two and a half years, ensuring that a leader from the EPP takes over in the second half of the term.
With 190 seats secured in the European elections, the EPP is leveraging its influence to secure key roles within the European Union. Alongside Ursula von der Leyen as President of the European Commission, the EPP seeks to have the European Council chaired by one of their own during the latter part of the mandate, according to informed European sources.
“A more balanced final agreement”
Informal negotiations among the three main European political families (EPP, socialists, and liberals) are ongoing. The ‘popular’ leaders support the reappointment of Ursula Von der Leyen for a second term as President of the Commission, as the candidate of the winning party in the European elections. However, the socialists insist on a “balanced” proposal that “reflects the outcome of the European elections.” Therefore, from the socialist bloc, they propose Antonio Costa as President of the European Council, a position that could be shared halfway through the term.
“It’s a standard negotiation strategy where each party initially raises their demands, with the expectation of reaching a more balanced final agreement,” sources from the Spanish delegation note, where Pedro Sánchez is among the socialist group’s negotiators.
The outcome of these negotiations will not only determine power distribution within European institutions but also the ability of major political coalitions to collaborate on future challenges facing the European Union. And this move by the EPP reflects their attempt to maximize political influence in the EU, leveraging their electoral success to claim significant leadership roles in the new term.
