Media: Von Der Leyen pursues last-minute meeting with Trump ahead of inauguration

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is making a concerted effort to secure a face-to-face meeting with President-elect Donald Trump in Florida, aiming to strengthen ties before his inauguration.

However, Bloomberg reports that according to two sources familiar with the matter scheduling the meeting has proven challenging, per Caliber.Az.

Discussions have taken place between EU and Trump aides, but it's unclear whether they can finalize plans for a visit to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate before January 20, when he officially takes office. Adding to the complexity, von der Leyen is still recovering from a serious case of pneumonia and has yet to return to Brussels after the holidays. She is currently in Germany, focusing on her recovery.

These hurdles come amid growing concerns within the EU over the prospect of communication challenges with the incoming US administration. Trump has repeatedly voiced his frustration with Europe, accusing the EU of mistreating the US and vowing to impose tariffs and take a tough stance on defence spending.

On Thursday evening, both von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa expressed their commitment to reinforcing transatlantic ties. They shared identical messages stating, "We look forward to a positive engagement with the incoming US Administration, based on our common values and shared interests. In a rough world, Europe and the US are stronger together."

Trump's transition team and EU representatives did not immediately respond to inquiries for comment.

Von der Leyen, who enjoyed a particularly close working relationship with outgoing President Joe Biden, visited the White House multiple times to coordinate policies on key issues such as Ukraine and China. Now, European officials are concerned that Trump might scale back US aid to Ukraine or reopen direct communications with Russia.

While the EU has privately signalled its willingness to cooperate with Trump's team on matters related to China, European officials have stressed that such collaboration will only be possible if Trump refrains from targeting the EU with tariffs.

Other European leaders have had more success in engaging with Trump. He recently hosted Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at his Mar-a-Lago estate and met with Hungarian Premier Viktor Orban, a close ally. Trump also visited Paris to celebrate the reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral, where he held talks with French President Emmanuel Macron.

By Tamilla Hasanova