AGI – It is not a topic on the agenda – at the leaders’ dinner – but for those with a venal curiosity, here is how much the leaders of the EU institutions earn. There President of the European Commission has a gross salary of 26,971 euros per month. He will probably earn the same amount as the President of the Commission (26,971 euros per month) and Charles Michel’s heir to the Presidency of the European Council. L’High Representative for Foreign and Defense Policy he has a slightly lower monthly salary: 24,994. The basic salary – explains Euronews – also includes benefits and allowances which could, in principle, double the payment that arrives every month in the accounts of the holders of the position, depending on whether they have a spouse or dependent children.
Barring any surprises, the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, should get the green light for the second mandate – informally – already this evening at the informal dinner of the EU Heads of State and Government. The German leader, spitzenkandidat of the EPP, should also have overcome the resistance of the French president, Emmanuel Macron (liberal), after the meeting at the Elysée on Wednesday, and of the German chancellor (socialist), Olaf Scholz, after the meeting at G7 of Borgo Egnazia.
Both agree that “we will move forward quickly and efficiently” at this evening’s meeting. The dinner is scheduled for 6pm. Von der Leyen and the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, (also in the running for reappointment) they will only participate in the first part, in which the outcome of the European elections will be analysed. They will leave the table when the Twenty-Seven enter the heart of the debate on top appointments.
The other two boxes to fill are the presidency of the European Council and the role of EU High Representative for Foreign Policy. For the first it is in pole the former Portuguese socialist prime minister, Antonio Costa. Also supported by the current Lisbon government led by the People’s Party. The Estonian Prime Minister is indicated for the role of head of European diplomacy, Kaja Kallas. There is still some doubt about the Baltic liberals regarding the risk that they will focus only on Eastern Europe and Ukraine in particular, leaving out the South which is equally important for a good part of the Twenty-Seven. However, you should have already provided guarantees in this regard during the first informal talks you had with your counterparts.
