Italian Premier Matteo Renzi on Friday deflated speculation that his predecessor and colleague in the centre-left Democratic Party (PD) Enrico Letta could become the next president of the European Council.
He said his government had not proposed Letta to be Herman Van Rompuy's replacement, adding that Italy was not likely to be given another top job, with Mario Draghi at the helm of the European Central Bank.
"Letta's name was never mentioned for the presidency of the European Council, not at official venues nor in unofficial talks," Renzi told a news conference at the end of a two-day EU summit in Brussels.
"There are three top EU positions at the head of the Council, the Commission and the ECB. It's difficult to see Italy getting two".
EU leaders are set to gather for another summit on July 16 to decide on nominations after the European Parliament votes on approving the nomination of Jean-Claude Juncker as European Commission president.
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