Media: EU officials unhappy with lack of EC-US direct contacts

An increasing chorus of officials and diplomats in Brussels is growing frustrated by the Commission's lack of a direct line to the White House, Report informs via Euractiv.

Before Trump’s inauguration in January, von der Leyen's entourage had sought “early contacts” with the incoming administration, even considering a potential visit. But those efforts fell flat.

Very few Commissioners have had the privilege of direct talks with the Trump administration, and EU officials privately lament their struggle to secure meetings for their principals with American counterparts, let alone to arrange visits.

Ursula von der Leyen could have a rare chance to confront Donald Trump at Pope Francis' funeral on Saturday, as the US president continues to eschew dialogue with Brussels in favour of hand-picked national leaders.

St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome is likely to turn into a crucible of international diplomacy on Saturday, as world leaders gather to pay their respects to Pope Francis, who died aged 88 on Monday.

Top of many wishlists is a brush-by or even a curt exchange with Trump, who has so far been highly selective in granting audiences.

But perhaps more eager to be in Trump's orbit is European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, whom Trump has so far treated with deafening silence since reclaiming the Oval Office.

Trump has never been keen to recognise the EU as an actual interlocutor – or von der Leyen as anything more than an unelected bureaucrat.