Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni welcomed three-way transatlantic discussions in Rome on Sunday, an event where European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized could mark “a new start” in global ties between the two alliances.
During his introductory remarks, U.S. Vice President JD Vance referred to Europe as an “important ally,” despite acknowledging that the two sides of the Atlantic occasionally have differences, much like friends often do, particularly when it comes to matters such as trade.
von der Leyen emphasized the substantial trading partnership between the entities involved: “In fact, we boast the biggest trade relationship globally, exceeding $1. 5 trillion annually, which is deeply interwoven.”
The head of the EU Commission stated, “Everyone understands that the devil is in the details, yet what brings us together is our shared desire to ultimately achieve a beneficial agreement for all parties involved,”
She took the opportunity to bring up Ukraine and express her gratitude towards the US for its involvement in seeking an end to Russia’s comprehensive assault on Ukraine.
“What matters now is definitely pushing forward, ensuring progress is being made, and I believe the coming week will be critical for this,” von der Leyen pointed out.
Past Ukraine, the final concern discussed revolved around defense. Von der Leyen recognized the necessity for EU countries to boost their defense spending, noting that the European Commission has initiated measures to make this easier.
“As (European) Commission, we have made available up to €800 billion over the coming four years for defense investments,” stated von der Leyen.
On Sunday morning, Meloni, Von Der Leyen, and Vance were present at Pope Leo XIV’s inaugural mass at the Vatican.
