PM Modi Congratulates Ursula Von Der Leyen On Re-Election As European Commission President

PM Modi congratulated Ursula von der Leyen on her re-election as President of the European Commission Friday. He expressed keenness to collaborate on strengthening the India-European Commission partnership for global benefit.

In a post on X, PM Modi stated, “Congratulations, @vonderleyen, on your reelection to the position of President, European Commission. Look forward to continuing working together to strengthen the India-European Commission Strategic Partnership for global good.”

A meeting of the leaders of the European Union was called on June 28 in Brussels, where the leaders were to decide who would head the bloc for another five years, but it had its share of controversy opposing the Italian and Hungarian leaders. Notwithstanding opposition from Italy’s Georgia Meloni and Hungary’s Viktor Orban, Ursula von der Leyen, Antonio Costa, and Kaja Kallas were named to key EU posts at the summit.

The second mandate was given to Ursula von der Leyen as President of the European Commission. The former Prime Minister of Portugal, Antonio Costa, became President of the European Council, and Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas is proposed as the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

The formal designation of von der Leyen and Kallas still requires the consent of the European Parliament, while the appointment of Costa as Council President is automatic since he already is president. He will take office on 1 December.

“I want to thank the leaders who supported my candidacy for a second mandate,” von der Leyen said after her re-nomination. “I am very honoured.”

The Italian Prime Minister, Meloni, has rejected both Costa and Kallas but abstained on von der Leyen, while Orban voted against von der Leyen but abstained on Kallas and supported Costa, diplomatic sources revealed.

Speaking after he was entrusted with the new role, Costa said with a sense of mission, “It is with a strong sense of mission that I take up the responsibility of being the next President of the European Council.”