Von der Leyen not ruling out deal with Meloni's ECR

(ANSA) - ROME, MAY 13 - European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Monday failed to rule out a deal with European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group that Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni's right-wing Brothers of Italy (FdI) party belongs to after next months European elections.
    "It is more important than ever for a broad coalition of pro-European parties to cooperate when our common interests are at stake," von der Leyen, who is the lead candidate of the centre-right European People's Party (EPP), told ANSA when asked about dialogue with the ECR and Meloni, who is co-president of the ECR.
    "I will, therefore, work with all those who are clearly committed to the rule of law, the European Union and Ukraine," added the Commission President, who is in Rome on Monday for the European-election campaign "The situation for Europe is serious and the challenges ahead are enormous". (ANSA).