EU leaders to back re-election of European Commission chief

EU leaders will support the possible re-election of the head of the European Commission (EC) Ursula von der Leyen for a second five-year term. The Financial Times (FT) writes about this, citing sources.

“No-one is discussing any other outcome. The lot has been cast for her,” a European diplomat told the publication on condition of anonymity.

The heads of the 27 countries that make up the European Union (EU) plan to “give political support” to von der Leyen’s retention in office during an informal dinner on the evening of 17 June in Brussels, the newspaper noted. During the same event, candidates for the post of head of the European Council, as well as the EU high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, will be discussed.

Earlier, Politico reported that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and former Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa, who are the main candidates for the top EU posts, remain the objects of ongoing investigations. In particular, von der Leyen is accused of corruption.