'Von der Leyen will negotiate directly with Meloni' -media

(ANSA) - ROME, JUN 25 - European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will negotiate directly with Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni for the future EU majority, not as leader of the EU Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) but as Italian prime minister, to decide which portfolio will be reserved for Italy in the next European Commission, international media reported Tuesday after an agreement emerged on the EU top jobs between the EC chief's European People's Party (EPP), the Socialists and the Liberals, whose majority has been confirmed.
    According to German daily FAZ, the EPP negotiators are expected to have talks with Meloni Tuesday afternoon to inform her.
    Von der Leyen and Meloni have good relations and have been on a number of foreign trips together, especially on setting up development projects to stem migration to the EU and bust trafficking gangs.
    European Affairs, Cohesion, South and Recovery and National Resilience Plan (NRRP) Minister Raffaele Fitto is reportedly Meloni's pick for what she hopes will be a prominent EC position, possibly as one of the vice presidents.
    Earlier Tuesday the EPP reportedly agreed on its long-rumoured trio of von der Leyen at the EC, former Portuguese premier Antonio Costa at the European Council, and Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas as High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy as the three top jobs for the next European legislature. (ANSA).