Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1522936
15 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 23 JUNE 2024 ANALYSIS make up its mind over top jobs which was last held by a Renew former prime minister, Charles Michel, should be split between them and the socialists. This deviation on the script of party blocs making neat slices of the EU cake has irked those not in the EPP drift. Last week, Charles Michel himself suggested to EU leaders that it should not be Von der Leyen to run the EC, but Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis (EPP). Indeed, it is Michel who, as outgoing Council president, is tasked with bring- ing together European leaders to reach consensus on the next heads of the European Commission, the European Council, the European Parliament and the EU's foreign policy arm. Mitsotakis has already ruled out that he is seeking a job in Brussels. But Michel's 'idea' for an alterna- tive, crowns a saga of infighting with Von der Leyen - the com- petition between the two set in early when they took office, with the former German defence min- ister proclaiming that she would lead a 'geopolitical Commission' while the former Belgian PM also wanting to be the face of Europe abroad. It set the stage for vari- ous double, even treble (counting High Representative Josep Bor- rell) appearance by the many EU leaders jostling for recognition around the globe. Finally, it will be the EU's prime ministers who will be taking the final vote on renewing Von der Leyen's presidency at the end of June in Brussels. The other jobs Meloni is expected to muscle her way into this game of Europe- an horse-trading, with her bid for an Italian commissioner who will be handling a top economic role, including an executive vice-presi- dent or vice-president title for an ECR nomination – possibly Raf- faele Fitto, Italy's minister for EU affairs who was once part of Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia before leaving in 2015. Meloni could also be interest- ed in putting forward the name of Elisabetta Belloni, the current head of Italian intelligence for the role of High Representative of the EU – effectively the bloc's foreign minister – but this role is set to go to Estonian Prime Minister Kaje Kallas, whose political weight has become more important since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Even if Von der Leyen does not need Meloni joining a unanimous vote for her, it is yet to be seen if European leaders can ignore a strengthened Meloni, who has also shown no qualm in feuding with French president Emanuel Macron since France froze plans to take in 3,500 refugees as part of the EU's migrant-relocation mechanism in 2022, and instead announced border reinforce- ments. Part of the carving-up of EU jobs is always about keeping bal- ance: balance between the major political blocs, and balance be- tween north, south and east and west, and balance between the genders. In this case, the east gets Kallas as HRVP; the north gets Von der Leyen; the south would be represented by Malta's Rober- ta Metsola as the EPP's nomina- tion to the European Parliament, while the job of European Coun- cil president is being touted for Portuguese prime minister Anto- nio Costa. The vote of the MEPs While the three main political groups' lead negotiators are in talks to draw up the final list and jobs package for EU commis- sioners before the Council meets next week, it will still be the Eu- ropean Parliament to finally vote on the next European Commis- sion president in mid-July: un- doubtedly MEPs will come with guidelines from their respective national governments, who will toe the line for a stable EU that projects unity, especially in the face of geopolitical uncertainty, which has yet to see an Ameri- can election get underway later this year. It's no done deal for Von der Leyen: she needs 361 votes out of the EP's 720 to be appointed president, and the members of the EPP, socialists and liberals will not all vote for her, espe- cially if the EPP starts making lunges at more jobs. And if Von der Leyen loses this vote, the Council must come back with an alternative candidate for Euro- pean Commission president, an institutional crisis Europe does not want. EC president Ursula von der Leyen with Council president Charles Michel European Parliament president Roberta Metsola (left) with Estonian Prime Minister Kaje Kallas Prime Minister Robert Abela (right) with Portuguese prime minister Antonio Costa, who is being touted for European Council president