CHANGES HEADLINE, DECK, LEDE, ADDS MORE REMARKS, EDITS THROUGHOUT
By Nur Asena Erturk
The outgoing president of the European Council called early Friday for avoiding a further escalation of tensions in the Middle East.
Charles Michel, who earlier announced that former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa had been elected to replace him, said at a joint news conference following a European Council meeting in Brussels that the bloc will continue to support a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
He also stressed the need to “avoid any further escalation” amid rising tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border.
Michel also announced that the council had chosen Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas as the candidate for High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. She would replace Josep Borrell as the new foreign policy chief.
Costa's election and Kallas and Von Der Leyen's nominations would send a “strong signal” about European democracy, he added.
"I’m delighted to be here today with Ursula von der Leyen and Kaja Kallas, and to soon be part of this team," Costa said via videoconference.
Von der Leyen expressed her gratitude to the EU leaders for endorsing her nomination and added that she needs the approval of the European Parliament after presenting her political guidelines for the next term.
Kallas said her aim is to work for European unity and build global partnerships amid “challenges” for European foreign policy.
The European Council began a summit on Thursday to not only decide who would fill top posts but also to sign security agreements with Ukraine.
The two-day summit comes after European citizens cast their votes on June 6-9 to determine the composition of the European Parliament, with right-wing parties winning more seats but not gaining control.
The summit's agenda included matters such as military assistance to Ukraine, the vision for the next five-year mandate, the situation in the Middle East, migration, defense and security and top positions in the bloc.