Melons isolated at the European Council. And the leaders are divided: “A shocking gesture”

FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT
BRUSSELS — Giorgia Meloni has experienced theisolation at the European Council during the informal summit on Monday evening, which centered on the appointments of the heads of the EU institutions. As a qualified European source explained yesterday, he has experienced what it means not to be part of one of the great political families: the popular, the socialist, the liberal. If he wants to count, the source continued, he has to decide who he wants to be withand because, if he chooses Orbán and Le Pen, weighing will be difficult in the future too.

«She was not treated with due respect», explained another high-level European source yesterday: «The three political groups wanted to demonstrate that Meloni is isolated to the European Council – he continued -. From the point of view of the Treaties, the agreement can be made without Meloni”, because the president of the Commission is appointed by a qualified majority, “but we must then think about the effect in the medium to long term”. And in short, to the European Council next week.

The six negotiators who managed the appointments are the Polish Prime Minister Tusk and the Greek Mitsotakis for the EPP, the German Chancellor Scholz and the Spanish Prime Minister Sánchez for the socialists, the French President Macron and the Dutch Prime Minister Rutte for the liberals (in exit). On the table are the choice of the President of the Commission, of the European Council, of the Parliament (even if in reality it is autonomous) and of the High Representative for Foreign Affairs: Ursula von der Leyen, António Costa, Roberta Metsola and Kaja Kallas.

Meloni was not the only one dissatisfied with the method used, other leaders such as the Czech Petr Fiala (conservative) and the non-aligned such as the Hungarian Viktor Orbán, who assumes the rotating presidency of the EU from 1 July, also did not like it , the Slovak president Pellegrini, who replaced Prime Minister Fico who was still recovering after the attack. «Twelve, thirteen countries – continued the source – showed up shocked by the attitude towards Meloni which comes from a very successful G7 and towards Italy, one of the founding members of the EU. Some, but not all, of these leaders are in coalition with the ECR or may be in the future. The atmosphere in the room had deteriorated. Some were also frustrated with the treatment they received: they felt humiliated by the wait they were subjected to by the negotiators.”

The leaders’ dinner started late because it was preceded by a meeting of the EPP and PES negotiators, who were then joined by the liberals. The reflection, explains the source, is that «Meloni has consolidated his majority and Italy has a stable government. All things that France and Germany cannot boast.” And therefore, when Meloni expressed reservations about the method and branded the proposals as “a good start for the discussion”, he received “strong consensus”.

It is still too early to say what will happen at the next European Council, the high-level EU source indicated a changing scenario: «Other elements could be added to the negotiation, such as the vice-presidencies of the Commission and it is likely that Meloni will be recognized for one, some names may change as reservations have been raised on Costa and Kallas, even if not in the room of 27, a greater balance could be sought between the institutions”. The EPP asked to lead the European Council for two and a half years, going against custom. Application rejected by socialists. The objective will still be “to protect the atmosphere of cohesion even if we vote by majority”