Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has criticized the secretive agreements that are being made to fill top positions in the European Union’s institutions.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has expressed her disapproval of the backroom deals being made to fill key positions within the EU institutions. She believes it is “surreal” that voters’ voices are being disregarded.
Across the European Union, citizens have shown a significant shift away from left-leaning parties in the recent European Parliament elections. Right-wing parties achieved notable victories, including overwhelming defeats of ruling coalitions in Germany and France.
However, the three main political groups in the parliament, primarily centrist, reportedly reached an agreement on Tuesday to fill the most influential EU posts. This arrangement would see Ursula von der Leyen from Germany appointed as president of the European Commission for a second term.
During a speech to the Italian parliament on Wednesday, Meloni remarked that it was “surreal” that nominees for these high-level EU positions were presented “without even attempting to engage in discussions about the signals voters have sent.” According to the reported deal, Kaja Kallas, the Estonian Prime Minister, will assume the role of the EU’s new foreign policy chief, succeeding Josep Borrell from Spain. Former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa will chair the European Council, a position previously held by Charles Michel of Belgium.
These nominees will be formally presented to EU leaders for their approval at a meeting in Brussels on Thursday.
Media reports indicate that Italy was effectively excluded from the discussions regarding this agreement, which received approval from the leaders of France, Germany, Spain, Poland, Greece, and the Netherlands.
The Italian prime minister asserted that this kind of backroom dealing undermines the fundamental spirit of the European Union. She argued that EU institutions “were designed as neutral entities, capable of ensuring fairness for all member states, regardless of the political leanings of their respective governments.”
Meloni, whose European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group secured the most votes in Italy and is currently the third-largest in the European Parliament, expressed her desire for the shift towards the right to be reflected in the EU’s decision-making processes.
“The third [largest] group today is a group that is not favored by those making decisions,” she stated, referring to the EU as an “invasive bureaucratic giant.”
While the appointment of von der Leyen will still require approval from the European Parliament, media reports suggest she might attempt to secure Meloni’s support by offering Italy a prominent portfolio within the next European Commission.