From the Leyen hopes for a meeting with Trump in Rome – DiePresse.com
The chief of commission senses her chance of the Papal Grow in Rome to finally have a four-eye conversation with the US president.
Such an opportunity does not offer every day: When the bells on the start of the funeral celebrations for the Pope Francis, who died on Easter Monday, ring in the start of the funeral celebrations, world politics in Rome is a guest. Countless bilateral meetings on the edge of the major event have been agreed – and the most coveted interlocutor is once more called: Donald Trump.
Up to the last minute, the efforts were made in Brussels to a four-eye discussion by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen-the EU represents it together with Council President António Costa-and to fix it to the US President. Since taking office at the end of January, Trump had shown the cold shoulder: the Republican does no secret of the fact that she is not serious for him as a non -directly elected boss of the – albeit very powerful – Brussels authority.
The fact that her hardly hidden advances in Washington (previously) remained unrequited is only left out of the Leyen – it is countered by the constant effort to strengthen the role of her office in the world. Increasing frustration is also spreading in the Commission’s civil servant staff. So far there is hardly a direct line for the Trump administration; And this despite the fact that the Leyens Kabinett tried to the environment of the 78-year-old shortly after the beaten US election.
The previous low marked a journey of the hapless Kaja Kallas on Ukraine talks to Washington at the end of February. The EU foreign officer wanted to meet US Secretary of State Marco Rubio there-who then canceled « for schedule » at the last minute.
« Constructive negotiations »
Even in questions of trade policy, the responsibility of which lies with the EU Commission, the White House prefers to adhere to bilateral interlocutors from Italy, France or Great Britain. Trump reacted to the proposal of the Leyens for a zero-for-null agreement; Brussels currently only remains to continue to work for « constructive negotiations ». As a reminder: Washington had suspended the announced flat-rate 20 percent tariffs for 90 days in early April; In turn, the EU reacted with the exposure of the countermeasures that have already been decided. The US special tariffs on steel and aluminum in the amount of 25 percent continue to apply.
Meloni brings EU-US summit into play
For Giorgia Meloni, who welcomes the high-ranking guests in Rome, the starting point is quite explosive: only last week the Italian head of government had traveled to Washington to explore the possibility of an early EU-US summit. Meloni maintains the best relationship with Trump among the EU heads of state and government; They understand each other on a personal and political level.
The US President wanted to « consider a conversation with EU representatives », it said after the interview with the Italian. However, a summit between Washington and Brussels would not fall under the responsibility of the EU Commission, but in that of Council President Costa-and the Leyen would once again be booted.
