Former Italian premier Massimo
D'Alema met Wednesday with Jean-Claude Juncker, president of the
European Commission, a spokesman for D'Alema said.
D'Alema, who is president of a socialist studies
think-tank, and Juncker met for about 20 minutes, said the
spokesman, adding that Italian Premier Matteo Renzi was notified
of the meeting in Juncker's office.
The pair reportedly discussed Juncker's recent appointment
to the job.
But rumours have suggested that D'Alema, who is president
of the Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS), the
political foundation of the Party of European Socialists, might
be put forward by Italy an alternate candidate for the job of
high representative for foreign affairs at the EC.
Renzi has been pressing hard for Foreign Minister Federica
Mogherini to be appointed to the job, but has faced strong
resistance from some Eastern European countries, who reportedly
fear Mogherini is too inexperienced and may be soft on Russia in
the face of its involvement in the escalating conflict in
Ukraine.
D'Alema was Italian premier from 1998 to 2000, and also
served as foreign minister from 2006 to 2008, and is a member of
Renzi's centre-left Democratic Party (PD).
He was also a member of the European Parliament from 2006
to 2008.
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