A meeting that “will be particularly significant, as we face both a substantive agenda and critical decisions that will shape our path forward”. This was written by President Charles Michel in the invitation letter to the European Council of June 27th and 28th. The letter was sent to the 27 heads of State and Government of the European Union, who will meet in Brussels to establish the top jobs, the European Union’s highest positions, along with the political strategy to be pursued together in the next five years. As to the positions, it seems the die is cast by now: the European Council will propose a second term as president of the European Commission to the German Ursula von der Leyen of the People’s Party (a position that however needs to be approved and voted for by the European Parliament, which is not a foregone conclusion). The Portuguese Antonio Costa of the Socialist Party would become president of the European Council in lieu of the outgoing Michel. The nominee for High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy is the Estonian Liberal Kaja Kallas. It would basically be about confirming the majority of People’s Party, Social Democrat and Liberal members that has been leading the EU so far, leaving out of the control room the sovereigntist right-wing parties that got excellent results in the recent election for the renewal of the European Parliament.
In his letter, Michel explains what the main choices the leaders will have to make, three of which “stand out in particular: first, we will adopt the Strategic Agenda. True to its role under the Treaties, the European Council will frame the EU’s priorities and set the EU’s strategic orientations for the next five years, thereby guiding the work of the next institutional cycle. Second, we will determine the way ahead on internal reforms, and thirdly, we will agree on the institutional appointments”.