Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen had another telephone conversation on Tuesday ahead of Meloni’s meeting on Thursday with US President Donald Trump at the White House, sources said on Wednesday.

On Monday a Commission spokesperson said von der Leyen and Meloni have been “in regular contact” ahead of the visit, adding that, while negotiating trade deals is the EC’s exclusive competence, all contacts were welcome after Trump announced his tariffs.

Meloni, the leader of the right-wing Brothers of Italy (FdI) party, has friendly relations with Trump and there is talk of her acting as a “bridge’ between the Europe and the US.