President of the European Council to Step Down Early in Summer
The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, plans to run for the European Parliament elections in June of this year, leading to his early resignation from the position of President of the European Council. He announced this in an interview with Belgian media, including De Standaard.
The European Parliament elections are scheduled for June, so if Michel is elected, he will vacate the position of the President of the European Council in mid-July.
"I have decided to participate in the European elections in 2024. If elected, I will take my place in the European Parliament. The European Council may identify and appoint my successor by the end of June or early July," noted Charles Michel.
According to Michel, the electoral campaign should not affect his current role. He emphasized that 2024 is a crucial year for elections not only in Europe but also worldwide.
"Above all, the European project stands at a crossroads, and there is a need to strengthen the legitimacy of European democracy. I want to be part of the team building the European project, and I am running to continue serving it," he underscored.
Former Prime Minister of Belgium, Charles Michel, will run as a candidate from his center-right party, the "Reformist Movement." He has been leading the European Council since the beginning of 2019. If Charles Michel had not run for the European Parliament, he would have left the position of the head of the European Council at the end of November.
In response to Russia's massive missile strike on Ukraine, Michel expressed the view that such actions indicate Moscow's lack of interest in peaceful negotiations. He also announced an extraordinary summit dedicated to a mid-term aid program for Ukraine amounting to 50 billion euros, scheduled for February 1.
During a press conference on December 18 in Brussels, Michel stated that the EU leaders would discuss the mid-term review of the EU budget, including the allocation of multi-year assistance to Ukraine, at the summit on February 1. This summit was prompted by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's refusal to allow the EU to adopt a budget resolution that included the mid-term aid program for Ukraine of 50 billion euros. Initially, it was reported that the summit would take place in January.