- Title: EU leaders meet to discuss the bloc’s top jobs after elections
- Date: 27th June 2024
- Summary: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (JUNE 27, 2024) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF DIPLOMATIC CARS ESCORTED BY POLICE OFFICERS ON MOTORBIKE ARRIVING AT THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL EXTERIOR OF EU COUNCIL / PEOPLE WALKING BY / POLICE VAN PARKED POLICE OFFICERS ON DUTY EXTERIOR OF EU COUNCIL / WOMAN WALKING BY SIGN READING (English): “Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union” EXTERIOR OF EU COUN
- Embargoed: 11th July 2024 09:48
- Keywords: COUNCIL EU EXTERIORS FLAGS SUMMIT
- Location: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
- City: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
- Country: Belgium
- Topics: European Union,Europe,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001425227062024RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: European Union leaders are to agree on Thursday (June 27) on the strategic course for the EU and on the people to run its institutions for the next five years, with special focus on helping Ukraine fend off Russia and bolstering the EU's own defences.
A draft strategic agenda seen by Reuters calls for boosting EU competitiveness to better withstand economic pressure from China and the United States and for preparing the bloc for enlargement that would include Ukraine, Moldova and the Western Balkans.
The agenda is to help the next head of the European Commission, due to start in October, prepare a work programme. The 27 national leaders are expected to nominate Ursula von der Leyen of Germany for a second term as Commission president.
As part of a package agreed by three pro-EU centrist political groups, Portuguese ex-premier Antonio Costa would preside over the European Council of EU leaders and Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas would be foreign policy chief.
The three groups - the centre-right, centre-left and liberals - have the necessary majority to get the package approved at the summit. But there could still be some resistance, with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban critical of the deal.
(Production: Bart Biesemans, Farah Salhi) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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