Media: EU leaders voice concern over Ursula von der Leyen's unilateral decision-making
Leaders of several European Union countries are increasingly dissatisfied with the actions of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, accusing her of overstepping her mandate and making key decisions unilaterally.
The growing frustration has prompted calls for new European Council President António Costa to "rein in" von der Leyen's powers, particularly in light of her recent move to sign a landmark trade deal with the South American Mercosur bloc, Caliber.Az reports, citing Politico.
The decision, which was heavily opposed by France—one of the EU's most powerful members—has sparked a renewed debate about von der Leyen's style of leadership. "Von der Leyen went further than any Commission president before in the interpretation of her mandate, most recently with the Mercosur decision," said one EU diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity.
This isn't the first time that von der Leyen has faced backlash for bypassing the interests of major EU capitals. Earlier this year, the European Commission imposed duties on Chinese electric vehicle imports, a move that deeply angered Berlin.
As Costa prepares to lead his first European summit, discussions among EU diplomats are expected to center around von der Leyen's increasing control over EU policy decisions. "The real conversation will be about von der Leyen, and how far she can go," one diplomat remarked.
In her first five-year term, von der Leyen earned a reputation for making decisions that many leaders considered outside the scope of her authority, often leaving EU heads of state out of critical discussions. This includes her role in pushing sanctions against Russia, which was met with resistance from certain member states.
By Khagan Isayev