Former Italian Foreign Minister Luigi
Di Maio moved closer to landing the job of EU Special
Representative for the Gulf on Wednesday when the Committee of
Permanent Representatives to the EU (COREPER) gave the second
green light to his nomination, sources said.
The Political and Security Committee of the European Union had
already approved the nomination, which was made by EU High
Representative Josep Borrell.
The final step is for the appointment to be ratified by the
European Council, which could take place on Monday at a meeting
of the Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council.
In the event of a positive outcome, the 36-year-old former Five
Star Movement (M5S) leader will take up the position on June 1.
Di Maio's name was put forward last year by former Italian
premier Mario Draghi, under whom he served.
In Italy Borrell's proposal of Di Maio met mixed reactions, with
Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani of the
centre-right Forza Italia party describing it as a "legitimate
choice", but saying that Di Maio "is not the candidate of the
Italian government".
Senators from Deputy Premier and Transport Minister Matteo
Salvini's League said the decision to nominate Di Maio was
"politically outrageous".
It is an "affront to the will of Italians who expressed
themselves clearly last September 25 by choosing the centre
right" in general elections, a statement said.
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