FT: Brussels seeks path to Trump via Italy’s PM

European Union officials are placing cautious hope in Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s rapport with Donald Trump to help secure a high-level EU-US summit during Trump’s return to the White House.

Meloni visited Washington last week, where she held a cordial meeting with the US president. Trump, praising Meloni as “a great person,” hinted at the prospect of a future trade agreement between the EU and the US. “There’ll be a trade deal, 100%,” he said. “But it will be a fair deal.”

However, what Washington might define as "fair" remains uncertain, especially as EU officials scramble to respond to Trump’s imposition of a 20 per cent "reciprocal" tariff on the bloc earlier this month, according to analysts by the Financial Times. The measure, currently under a 90-day suspension, has added urgency to Brussels’ efforts to open a channel of dialogue with the White House.

Trump’s long-held scepticism toward the EU continues to cast a shadow over these efforts. He has previously claimed that the EU was created “to screw the US” and accused the bloc of “ripping off” America in trade relations. Despite this, European officials hope Meloni's outreach might influence Trump to engage directly with EU leaders, a departure from his usual preference for bilateral dealings with individual member states.

An EU official confirmed that Italian counterparts had shared details of Meloni’s meeting with Trump, including discussions about a possible EU-US summit and even a potential Trump visit to Europe. According to the official, Meloni had raised the summit idea earlier with European Council President António Costa, who responded “positively” to the proposal.

Officials within the European Commission have also expressed support for the summit idea, even though Trump has not spoken directly with Commission President Ursula von der Leyen since returning to office — despite the Commission’s exclusive authority over trade negotiations on behalf of the bloc.

The EU and US maintain the world’s largest trading and investment relationship, with the US purchasing roughly a fifth of all EU goods exports. Brussels is keen to preserve this strategic partnership, particularly with looming trade uncertainties.

Adding to the diplomatic backdrop, Trump has announced plans to attend the funeral of Pope Francis in Rome later this week, an event expected to draw several EU leaders and potentially offer a venue for informal talks.

Trump is also scheduled to travel to the Netherlands in June to attend the NATO leaders’ summit, which falls just ahead of the expiration of the tariff suspension on July 8. Von der Leyen recently told the Financial Times that the “right time” to meet Trump would be “when we have a good deal.”

By Tamilla Hasanova