A “package deal” for top European posts is ante portas and could be locked in at tonight’s leaders’ dinner, say media reports from Brussels.

Germany’s Ursula von der Leyen will reportedly secure a second term as European Commission president, while Portugal’s Antonio Costa will likely be chosen by European leaders as president of the European Council. Roberta Metsola’s term in the European Parliament is locked in, while Estonia’s Kaja Kallas is expected to be chosen for the crucial post of foreign policy chief.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis is playing a central role in the ongoing negotiations, as he and his Polish counterpart Donald Tusk were the two EPP leaders who backed Ursula von der Leyen’s candidacy for the Commission presidency.

In fact, as the European People’s Party says in a post, the two leaders will be the ones to negotiate on behalf of the EPP.

Characteristic of the optimism that is forming in Brussels for a package deal is the fact that Kyriakos Mitsotakis has already expressed his optimism about reaching a solution regarding the distribution of important positions of responsibility.

“I am optimistic that on Monday evening, at the informal dinner of the leaders, we will be able to come up with names that will be mutually acceptable, starting obviously with the candidacy of Mrs. von der Leyen to continue to be President of the European Commission for the next five years,” Kyriakos Mitsotakis said.

The intensive consultations between Mitsotakis and Tusk in Brussels began with meetings with the EPP “bigwigs”, the German Christian Democrat Merts and the Spanish People’s Party’s Feijo, both of whom won their European elections. According to government sources, these meetings discussed coordination issues in view of the EPP leaders’ meeting and the new term of the European Parliament.

Although nothing should be taken for granted as regards the informal leaders’ dinner, European officials considered that it would be difficult to overturn the status quo. The European People’s Party (EPP), which remains the largest political force in the EU, wants to guarantee a second five-year term for von der Leyen. With Emmanuel Macron focused on his own internal political turmoil, EU leaders are almost certain to impose it.

For their part, the Socialists, the second largest group in the European Parliament, are aiming for the leadership of the European Council, which represents the 27 member states. Portugal’s Antonio Costa appears to be ahead in the race to succeed current European Council President Charles Michel, but some leaders believe that his recent legal adventures must first be overcome.

Nikos Christodoulides: Ursula should go for a second term

Ursula von der Leyen should continue for a second term as European Commission President as the election result was clear, Cypriot President Nicos Christodoulides said, underlining that he hopes the procedures for the nomination of the EU leadership for the next five years will be completed by July.

Nikos Christodoulides is attending the meeting of the leaders of the EU member states and opposition leaders of the European People’s Party.

The meeting, in Brussels, takes place in the afternoon ahead of an informal dinner of the 27, at which the results of the European elections will be discussed, as well as the possible names for the presidency of the Commission and the European Council, and for the post of High Representative, in view of the European Parliament’s choice of its own president next month.

Asked whether he expects an agreement on the EU leadership to be reached at tonight’s leaders’ dinner, President Christodoulides said that “the election result is clear, we have to move immediately, and hopefully by July we will have concluded.”

“I hope that today we will have a first agreement. It cannot be formal, as it is an informal meeting, but what is important is to finish by July,” he added, referring to the European Parliament plenary next month.

Recall that if leaders lock in the name of the next European Commission President at the June 27-28 session, it is possible that the plenary will vote to ratify the appointment at the July 16-19 session.

Responding to a question on what he thinks the name of the next Commission President will be, Christodoulides replied that “the name of the President is clear – I think as I told you that the result of the elections was clear. Therefore, Ursula should go for a second term”.