Deal on EU top jobs for Von der Leyen, Costa and Kallas

The three main centrist political groups have reached an agreement on the distribution of Europe's top jobs, the German news agency DPA reported on Tuesday, citing sources close to the negotiations.

Under the deal reached by the Christian democratic EPP, the socialist S&D and the liberal Renew Europe, Ursula von der Leyen would continue as president of the European Commission.

The three groups also selected Portugal's former prime minister Antonio Costa to head the European Council. Estonian prime minister Kaja Kallas is their choice for High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

Their appointments are not a done deal, as European leaders still have to formally decide on the selection at their summit in Brussels on Thursday or Friday. Not all 27 leaders are in the three groups that reached this preliminary agreement.

It is also uncertain whether Von der Leyen can secure an absolute majority in the European Parliament, which must approve her nomination. The EPP, S&D and Renew Europe have a majority in the Parliament, but it seems too narrow to confidently pass the secret vote on her nomination without the support of other groups.

^{Ursula von der Leyen at an informal summit of EU leaders in Brussels, 17 June 2024 © PHOTO NICK GAMMON / AFP}