Former premier D'Alema, Juncker meet

(ANSA) - Brussels, July 23 - 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.