EU finalises officials to be face of largest trading bloc

World leaders at the conference. Pic/AFP

European Union leaders signed off on a trio of top appointments for their shared political institutions reinstalling German conservative Ursula von der Leyen as president of the European Commission for another five years.

At the side of von der Leyen, who heads the EU's executive branch, would be two new faces: Antonio Costa of Portugal as European Council president and Estonia's Kaja Kallas as the top diplomat of the world's largest trading bloc.

"Mission Accomplished," outgoing EU Council President Charles Michel told reporters after chairing a summit of the bloc's leaders, as von der Leyen and Kallas accompanied him at a joint a news conference. Costa took part via video-link.

Von der Leyen expressed her gratitude for a shot at a second term of office, saying: "I'm very honored and I'm delighted to share this moment." Kallas, who as the EU's top diplomat will lead the bloc's foreign and security policy with Russia's war on Ukraine in its third year, noted that "there is war in Europe, also growing instability globally. My aim is definitely to work for the European unity".

Both von der Leyen and Kallas should now be approved by European lawmakers. Costa's nomination only needed the leaders' approval, and he will start in his new role in fall.

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