Von der Leyen honoured to share top EU appointment with Costa and Callas

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Thursday after being appointed for a second term that she was “honoured and delighted” to share the top posts in the European Union with António Costa and Kaja Kallas.

“It is a great honor and joy for me to share this special moment with António Costa as President of the European Council and Kaja Callas as Vice-President of the next Commission” and head of diplomacy of the European Union (EU).

Von der Leyen said that after presenting her policy directions for the next five years, she would “ask for confirmation in the European Parliament” of her appointment.

Socialist António Costa was elected this Thursday by the EU heads of state and government as President of the European Council for a two-and-a-half-year term beginning on 1 December 2024, it was announced in Brussels.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the European Council in Brussels, where EU leaders also proposed the name of Ursula von der Leyen for a second term as head of the European Commission, which is, however, dependent on the final approval of the European Parliament, and appointed Estonian Prime Minister Kaija Kallas as the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, subject to the election of MEPs from the entire College of Commissioners.

Following his resignation following a judicial investigation, former Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa was chosen to succeed Belgium’s Charles Michel (in office since 2019) at the helm of the European Council, the EU institution that brings together Europe’s heads of government and state. A European bloc whose appointment is made by a qualified majority (55% of the 27 member states, representing 65% of the total population).

António Costa is the first Portuguese and first socialist to head the European Council.