Estonia’s Kallas resigns in preparation for EU foreign policy role
The Estonian prime minister, Kaja Kallas, submitted her resignation today, ERR reported.
Kallas has been nominated to serve as the EU’s next high representative for foreign affairs, succeeding Josep Borrell.
She will formally remain prime minister until a new government is sworn in.
Alar Karis, the Estonian president, said he accepted her resignation.
“I thanked her for her work and wish her the best of luck! I will begin talks with representatives of all political parties in the Riigikogu to form a new government,” he said.
I have accepted PM @KajaKallas’ resignation due to her nomination as a candidate for EU’s chief diplomat. I thanked her for her work and wish her the best of luck!
I will begin talks with representatives of all political parties in the Riigikogu to form a new government. pic.twitter.com/g2TWG10FYL— Alar Karis (@AlarKaris) July 15, 2024
Key events
Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he aimed to have all the elements of a peace plan ready in November so that Kyiv could convene a second international summit on his vision for peace, Reuters reported.
“I set a goal that in November we would have a fully ready plan,” he said.
He also said that 23 security agreements Kyiv concluded with its partners already account for $38 billion.
New UK government ‘committed to resetting relationship with EU’
The UK’s new EU relations minister is heading to Brussels to stress the Labour government’s commitment to “resetting the relationship” with the bloc.
Nick Thomas-Symonds is meeting European Commission vice-president Maroš Šefčovič for their first face-to-face talks on Monday to “set the ground for further discussions” on deepening ties, according to the Cabinet Office.
Ahead of his Brussels trip, Thomas-Symonds said: “Our government is committed to resetting the relationship with the European Union, to strengthen ties, reinforce our security and tackle barriers to trade.
“The EU and member states are among the UK’s closest friends and allies. With war in Europe, and shared global challenges, in areas such as climate change and illegal migration, a strong UK – EU alliance is vital.
“I am looking forward to meeting the executive vice president in Brussels today, it was a pleasure to speak to him immediately after my appointment last week.
“I expect to be engaging with him and EU colleagues much more in the coming months, as we work together to help make our continent safer and more prosperous.”
Šefčovič said: “The EU and the UK are close neighbours, partners, and allies, sharing values as well as challenges that are global in nature. I am looking forward to receiving Minister Thomas-Symonds to discuss ways to strengthen our co-operation, while making the most of our existing agreements that form the cornerstone of our partnership.”
Ahead of a vote on Thursday in the European parliament on Ursula von der Leyen’s candidacy for a second term as European Commission president, some groups have made clear they have demands in return for their support.
“The vote to be held on Thursday will not be a blank check,” said the liberal Renew Europe’s Valérie Hayer.
“We made our priorities very clear,” she said, adding that “we also demand that there be no link, directly or indirectly, with the extreme right. Europe needs a coalition of pro-Europeans.”
Le vote qui se tiendra jeudi ne sera pas un chèque en blanc.
Nous avons fait entendre nos priorités de façon très claire à @vonderleyen. Nous exigeons aussi qu’il n’y ait aucun lien, de près ou de loin, avec l’extrême-droite.
L’Europe a besoin d’une coalition des pro-européens. pic.twitter.com/emB5rfdBxK
— Valérie Hayer (@ValerieHayer) July 15, 2024
Ukraine said today that a military serviceman allegedly attempting to flee the country illegally had been shot dead, AFP reported.
The State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) said four servicemen were apprehended while approaching the Moldovan border.
“While trying to cross the border, border guards noticed them and detained them,” it said. “One of the fugitives attacked the border guard while trying to escape. In response, he used his service weapon and shot the attacker,” it added.
The Kremlin said today that the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, had not contacted Donald Trump after the assassination attempt and had no plans to do so, Reuters reported.
France’s post-election debates are continuing.
Olivier Faure, first secretary of the Socialist party, said this morning that the president should appoint the New Popular Front to govern.
Dans un régime républicain, la règle est claire : le Président doit nommer le bloc arrivé en tête aux législatives pour gouverner, donc le #NFP. Le réflexe premier du Président devrait donc être de se tourner vers la gauche, et de ne pas l’empêcher de gouverner par la suite. pic.twitter.com/ZbrtHE8OGR
— Olivier Faure (@faureolivier) July 15, 2024
Estonia’s Kallas resigns in preparation for EU foreign policy role
The Estonian prime minister, Kaja Kallas, submitted her resignation today, ERR reported.
Kallas has been nominated to serve as the EU’s next high representative for foreign affairs, succeeding Josep Borrell.
She will formally remain prime minister until a new government is sworn in.
Alar Karis, the Estonian president, said he accepted her resignation.
“I thanked her for her work and wish her the best of luck! I will begin talks with representatives of all political parties in the Riigikogu to form a new government,” he said.
I have accepted PM @KajaKallas’ resignation due to her nomination as a candidate for EU’s chief diplomat. I thanked her for her work and wish her the best of luck!
I will begin talks with representatives of all political parties in the Riigikogu to form a new government. pic.twitter.com/g2TWG10FYL— Alar Karis (@AlarKaris) July 15, 2024
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