Frontrunners for EU’s top jobs

Leaders are to meet on June 27 to try to reach a final agreement on who will lead the EU institutions for the next five years
 

COMMISSION PRESIDENT
Ursula von der Leyen

Well placed for second term after victory of her centre-right European People’s Party (EPP) in EU elections

Germany’s von der Leyen, 65, has started talks with Socialists and Liberals to build centrist coalition, without officially including Giorgia Meloni’s hard-right bloc


COUNCIL PRESIDENT
António Costa
 
Former Prime Minister of Portugal vying to replace Belgian liberal Charles Michel who cannot be re-elected

Costa, 62, put forward as candidate by centre-left family of Socialists and Democrats (S&D) for job that acquires special relevance in times of crisis
  

FOREIGN POLICY CHIEF
Kaja Kallas

Estonian Prime Minister could replace Spain’s Josep Borrell, who has often vexed diplomats for expressing personal views

Championed by liberal family of Renew Europe, Kallas, 47, has become leading voice in EU’s response to war in Ukraine, urging harder sanctions against Russia
 

PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT
Roberta Metsola
  
As candidate of powerful EPP group, Metsola is in leading position to be given another 2.5 year term

Metsola, 45, who is first Maltese citizen to hold the office, would become first woman to serve two successive terms as EP president if re-elected
 

Sources: Euronews, Politico, Reuters 
Pictures: Getty Images 
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