As the brand new European Fee and Parliament units off for the primary new 12 months of its mandate, Euronews has picked 25 to look at in 2025.
Take a look at the movers and shakers who will try to outline the course of the brand new mandate by kick-starting Europe in 2025.
The apparent few
1. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Fee
After securing her second mandate, von der Leyen will preserve working the EU from Brussels for the subsequent 5 years. With a shaken worldwide panorama and the aim to spice up European competitiveness, she can even signify the bloc’s priorities on the worldwide stage.
2. António Costa, President of the European Council
The Portuguese politician will lead the European Council, taking the baton from his predecessor Charles Michel. Some key conversations have already taken place on his watch relating to migration, the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, and relations with the brand new Trump administration in the US.
3. Kaja Kallas, Excessive Consultant of the EU for international affairs and safety coverage
Kallas, the EU’s new international coverage chief, will lead debate on points corresponding to European relations with the brand new regime in Syria and ties with EU’s border nations. Her current warnings in regards to the dangers of speeding Ukraine into peace negotiations recommend the course she intends to set for the EU.
4. Donald Tusk, Polish Prime Minister
Poland assumes the Presidency of the European Union for the primary six months of the 12 months. A robust advocate for Ukraine, Tusk has pledged to assist the nation’s aspirations to affix the bloc, an space the place he’s aligned with von der Leyen in addition to in the necessity to strengthen EU defence capability.
5. Mark Rutte, NATO chief
Rutte will play a key position in EU relations with US President-elect Donald Trump, who has wavered in assist of NATO citing the disproportionate contribution to the alliance contributed by the US. Each know one another and have labored collectively whereas Rutte was Dutch prime minister throughout Trump’s first mandate.
6. Teresa Ribera, Government Vice-President of the European Fee for a Clear, Simply and Aggressive Transition
As Vice President of the Fee with a robust portfolio encompassing local weather and competitors, she holds a pivotal position in shaping coverage in two vital areas. Whereas she has a strong grasp of environmental points, her strategy to competitors stays to be seen, notably whether or not she’s going to match the visibility of her predecessor, Margrethe Vestager.
7. Elon Musk, CEO of X, SpaceX
Musk has gained sturdy affect within the political panorama within the US and overseas, past his energy as CEO of X and House X, as President-elect Trump tasked him to guide new Division of Authorities Effectivity. Musk’s political involvement has additionally stirred controversy in Europe after he publicly endorsed Germany’s far-right AfD occasion.
8. Giorgia Meloni, Prime Minister of Italy
Giorgia Meloni, the chief of Italy’s right-wing Brothers of Italy occasion, has served because the nation’s Prime Minister since 2022. With Italy enjoying a key position in EU debates on migration, financial reform and power coverage, its management and alliances with different conservatives will form the bloc’s course and energy dynamics in Brussels.
9. Mette Frederiksen, Prime Minister of Denmark
Denmark will tackle the EU Presidency within the second half of 2025, succeeding Poland. A robust ally of Ukraine, Denmark has additionally been a vocal advocate for agency migration insurance policies. In 2024 it led a coalition of 15 member states in calling for the outsourcing of migration and asylum coverage.
10. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine
Zelenskyy, the previous Ukrainian actor and comic who was elected president of Ukraine in 2019, can depend on ongoing EU monetary assist in coping with Russian aggression towards his nation. However Trump’s election as US president would possibly sign a diminution of US assist, presenting Europe with a better invoice in 2025.
11. Jordan Bardella, President of the French far-right Nationwide Rally
Can Jordan Bardella’s recognition in France attain the Strasbourg Parliament? Mocked as “Jordan pas tres la” (“Jordan, not a lot there”) for his repeated absences from the European Parliament between 2019 and 2024, his election as The Patriots chief may herald a stronger affect on the European scene.
The éminences grises
12. Manfred Weber, Chairman of the EPP Group within the European Parliament
The centre-right European Individuals’s Celebration (EPP) has shifted proper below the decade-long management of Bavarian Manfred Weber and is ready to proceed as probably the most highly effective German within the European Parliament. He not too long ago persuaded the centre-left S&D and liberal Renew group to simply accept the Italian right-wing commissioner Raffaele Fitto.
13. Bjoern Seibert, Head of Cupboard of EU Fee President Ursula von der Leyen
A veteran of von der Leyen’s time as German defence minister between 2013 and 2019, Seibert is on the coronary heart of a close-knit inside decision-making circle and has performed a decisive position in coordinating the EU’s sanctions towards Russia after the invasion of Ukraine.
14. Pedro Lourtie, Head of Cupboard of EU Council President Antonio Costa
As Portuguese ambassador to the EU since 2022, Lourtie is anticipated to attract on his diplomatic expertise – posts in Paris, Washington and Tunisia – and his familiarity with Brussels, whereas serving because the right-hand of European Council President António Costa.
15. Ilze Juhansone, Secretary Common, European Fee
Latvia’s Ilze Juhansone succeeded the highly effective Martin Selmayer as Secretary-Common of the European Fee in 2020, after a political profession in her dwelling nation and a posting as Latvian ambassador to the EU. Juhansone, who retains a low profile, helped steer von der Leyen by means of her first mandate as EU President.
16. Nicola Procaccini, MEP, Fratelli d’Italia
Italian Nicola Procaccini, a member of Meloni’s Brothers of Italy occasion, serves as co-chair of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) within the European Parliament. Following the European elections, the ECR emerged because the third-largest group within the chamber, reshaping dynamics and difficult the centrist teams’ conventional cordon sanitaire towards far-right events.
17. Alessandro Chiocchietti, Secretary-Common, European Parliament
Chiocchetti’s closed-door appointment to change into the European Parliament’s new secretary-general was controversial in 2022, as he beforehand was President Roberta Metsola’s chief of workers. The job entails determination making energy on the Parliament’s multi-billion price range and overseeing 8,000 workers members.
18. Teresa Anjinho, European Ombudsman
Anjinho was elected as the brand new EU watchdog by the European Parliament throughout their final session in December in Strasbourg. Her work will primarily contain responding to complaints – from Europeans who’ve discovered themselves on the sharp finish of EU paperwork, or from journalists, activists or NGOs looking for better transparency from EU establishments.
19. Paula Pinho, Chief Spokesperson, European Fee
Pinho was appointed as Ursula von der Leyen’s chief spokesperson final November. She has labored for the European Fee since 2000 earlier than being chosen to move the Spokesperson’s Service. In her new position, she would be the first level of contact for the media, performing as a bridge between the press and the President of the Fee.
The on level
20. Piotr Serafin, European Commissioner for Price range and Administration
Serafin, an economist and Tusk’s former chief of workers, can be answerable for the price range portfolio the place he might want to press EU member states to adjust to von der Leyen’s inside reforms and to punish any misbehaving by slicing off entry to funds. Together with his native Poland.
21. Siegfrid Muresan, Member of the European Parliament
The middle-right Muresan, the European Parliament’s lead negotiator on the subsequent long-term price range, and chair of the EU-Moldova delegation can be on the centre of intertwined discussions on enlargement and price range spending.
22. Janos Boka, Minister of European Affairs, Hungary
Hungary, which has been in ongoing disputes with Brussels below the management of Viktor Orban, is getting ready to shedding €1 billion in EU cash that was frozen due to rule-of-law breaches. Newly put in János Bóka will signify the nation in its ongoing tussles with Brussels.
23. Mario Draghi, former Prime Minister of Italy
Draghi’s report on the way forward for European competitiveness was the idea for the plans of the brand new European Fee, colouring future proposals by the EU Government on financial safety, honest competitors and autonomy.
24. Simon Harris, Eire’s Taoiseach
Eire’s prime minister defended his nation’s stance on worldwide legislation and human rights and supported the South African case towards Israel on the Worldwide Courtroom of Justice – which accuses Israel of committing genocide in Gaza. Harris is the one European chief to take action – because the struggle Israel-Gaza struggle continues – and faces a diplomatic row.
25. Edi Rama, Prime Minister of Albania
Underneath Rama’s management, Albania strikes ahead with its EU-accession bid, hoping to change into a member by 2030. Nevertheless, the settlement he signed together with his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni over migrant detention centres on the fringes of the EU, has been placed on maintain because it raised questions on human rights.
