Nominees for four of the top jobs in Brussels have reportedly been agreed upon, with Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas being tapped as the European Union's top diplomat, while European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen will be nominated to serve a second term and former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa is set to become European Council president.
Meanwhile, NATO announced on June 26 from its headquarters in the Belgian capital that outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte has been appointed as the military alliance's next secretary-general.
Brussels sources familiar with the negotiations regarding changes in the EU's top jobs told RFE/RL that there is agreement among the bloc's 27 members on Kallas, Costa, and von der Leyen, who are expected to be confirmed at a summit on June 27. Rutte will take over on October 1, when current NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg's term expires.
Rutte's appointment was agreed upon at a meeting on June 26 of the North Atlantic Council, the alliance's principal decision-making body consisting of the permanent representatives of all member countries, NATO said.
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He takes over at a critical time for European and global security as the war in Ukraine threatens stability.
Stoltenberg, a Norwegian former prime minister, assumed office in October 2014 and had his mandate extended four times, mainly as the alliance looked for stability and continuity after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Stoltenberg said that “Mark is a true trans-Atlanticist, a strong leader, and a consensus-builder."
“I wish him every success as we continue to strengthen NATO for the challenges of today and tomorrow. I know I am leaving NATO in good hands,” he added.
Favored by a large majority of the alliance's members, Rutte's candidacy met an unexpected obstacle when Romanian President Klaus Iohannis announced in March that he intended to run for NATO's top position, arguing that the bloc needed change and an Eastern European perspective amid Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
However, earlier this month, Hungary and Slovakia, the last two countries that had opposed Rutte's candidacy threw their support behind the veteran Dutch politician, prompting Iohannis to announce on June 20 that he was withdrawing his bid.
Rutte is a history graduate and a former manager at a consumer products conglomerate. He became prime minister of the Netherlands for the first time in 2010. He is known for his no-frills behavior and can be seen frequently biking around The Hague.
Experts say that Rutte, renowned as a consensus builder, will need to muster all his political skills to maintain harmony in the alliance as the Ukraine war drags on.
Kallas will become the EU's new high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, taking over from Josep Borrell.
Costa will replace incumbent Charles Michel, while von der Leyen will remain as the president of the European Commission for another five years.