Italy's prime minister Giuseppe Conte "has asked for a meeting" with European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker but no appointment has yet been fixed, the chief spokesperson for the EU executive, Mina Andreeva, said on Monday.
The meeting between Conte and Juncker could take place on Wednesday in Brussels, according to sources.
Italy's centre-left-grassroots government, which took office on Thursday is widely seen as an administration that will smooth ties with Brussels, take a softer line on migration and respect EU budget rules.
The pro-European Democratic Party (PD), which is in coalition with the 5-Star Movement in the new government led by Giuseppe Conte, has taken charge of the economy and European affairs ministries. And former PD premier Paolo Gentiloni has been named as Italy's next European commissioner in the 27-strong team due to be unveiled on Tuesday by European Commission president-elect Ursula von der Leyen.
Italy is hoping Gentiloni will be assigned the economic affairs portfolio in the new EU executive, or, failing that, competition or trade.
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