Von der Leyen Engages with Meloni Ahead of Washington Visit

Rome: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has been and will continue to be in contact with Premier Giorgia Meloni over the latter’s trip to Washington to see US President Donald Trump Thursday, an EC spokesperson said Monday underlining that negotiating trade deals is the EC’s exclusive competence but all contacts were welcome.

According to Ansa News Agency, “President von der Leyen and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni have been in regular contact,” said the spokesperson of the EU Commission Arianna Podest  when asked by the press about Meloni’s visit to Washington and whether she has a specific EU mandate in this regard.

“The president is in constant contact with all EU leaders. They have also been in contact in relation to this mission in recent days. And they will be in contact before the scheduled mission, as von der Leyen said, any contact with the US is welcome.”

“That of negotiating trade agreements is our exclusive competence,” stressed Podest .