EU countries’ leaders agree on new leadership for next 5 years

Leaders of the 27 member states of the European Union (EU) have agreed on the bloc's political leadership for the next five years at a summit in Brussels, reports Euronews.

Accordingly, Ursula von der Leyen was accepted as president of the European Commission, Antonio Costa as president of the European Council, and Kaja Kallas as the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

Leaders on Thursday also approved the Strategic Agenda, a document with broad brushstrokes of ambitions that is meant to guide the future work of the three appointees.

Von der Leyen and Kallas's nominations are not final and still require confirmation by the European Parliament. By contrast, Costa, a former prime minister of Portugal, is automatically elected by his former peers. He will take office on 1 December.

The selection can be seen as recognition of centrist parties, who held their ground in the elections and defied ominous predictions of a far-right surge.