EU heads met on Monday to discuss the top job in Brussels following the success of her center-right European People’s Party (EPP) in this month’s European Parliamentary elections.
Following voting across the EU, the latest results show the EPP with 190 seats, an increase of 14 which puts them far ahead of opposition parties.
Speaking on Monday, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said he was certain the EU leaders would come to an agreement quickly on who will be the president.
He said: “Given that the political platform that has so far supported President (von der Leyen) in parliament once again has a majority, I believe it will be possible to find a sensible solution quickly.
“It is important for a decision to be made quickly, because we are living in difficult times and it is important to know what the future holds for Europe.”
Earlier, French President Emmanuel Macron said he believed the talks would deliver a quick decision.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis told reporters on Monday he would also support von der Leyen’s second term as EU commission president.
He said: “(I will support her) because she was our 'Spitzenkandidat' (leading candidate) and because the EPP won the European elections and because she is a good president.”
Meanwhile, Poland’s Donald Tusk has also given his backing to von der Leyen’s candidacy saying the appointment would be good for Poland.
“Ursula von der Leyen has full understanding of the fundamental issues for Poland, especially when it comes to security, the dome over our sky, the eastern border, fortifications, and migration.
“These difficult topics have been well discussed and will be of great benefit to us as a country.”
Tusk also gave his backing to the appointment of Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas for the position of head of EU diplomacy, saying it was important for the Central and Eastern Europe region.
Also on the agenda of Monday’s meeting is who will become the next president of the European Council, a post which Portugal’s former Socialist prime minister Antonio Costa looks set to take.
Unlike the European Commission which is the executive of the EU and designed to be independent of national interests, the European Council is part of the EU’s law-making process and consists of the heads of state or government of the EU’s 27 member states as well as a president elected for a 2.5-year-term. The current President of the Council is Charles Michel.
The EU leaders are expected to confirm their choices during an EU summit on June 27-28.
For von der Leyen to be given a second term, however, she will still need the support of a majority in the European Parliament - at least 361 out of the 720 MEPs - which votes in its first session from July 16.
