EU spokesman denies delay in report to boost von der Leyen's reelection bid

By Selin Valentine Rasquinho

BRUSSELS (AA) – A EU Commission spokesman on Monday denied allegation that the commission's president postponed a report critical of Italy to ensure that Rome will back her reelection bid.

Ursula von der Leyen is up for another term as president in the wake of European Parliament elections earlier this month.

At a news conference, commission spokesman Eric Mamer argued that a review on the report is still underway and it will be submitted to the commissioners later.

Asked by reporters whether he is worried about press freedom in Italy, as covered in the report, he declined comment, adding: “The report analyzes the matter you talked about extensively."

On Sunday, news website Politico claimed that von der Leyen has sought to slow down an official European Union report criticizing Italy for eroding media freedoms, as she seeks Rome’s support for a second term as commission president.

Citing EU officials, it argued that the report highlights a clampdown on free media in Italy since far-right Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni took office in 2022.

The annual report assessing how EU countries respect the rule of law was expected to be approved on July 3 but instead was delayed until the new commission president is elected, according to the outlet.

The commission president is nominated by the European Council and must be elected by the European Parliament, which has 720 members from the bloc’s 27 member states.