ROME, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- The upcoming installation of one-time Germany Minister of Defense Ursula von der Leyen as the 14th head of the European Commission could be the start of a new stage in often difficult relations between Rome and Brussels.
But according to analysts, the new stage will probably look a lot like the old one.
Italy has clashed with the European Commission on a series of issues since the government of Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte took office 14 months ago, including budgetary issues, policies for migration, plans for reforms of tax laws, and state aid for companies.
Relations seem to be strained even more after representatives of the League, the nationalist political party that backs the Conte government, did not vote for von der Leyen when she was voted on in the European Parliament. Representatives from the populist Five-Star Movement, the League's coalition partner, did support von der Leyen's candidacy. In the end, von der Leyen was selected with a razor-thin majority of just nine votes in the 751-member European Parliament.
But those issues seemed to be smoothed over -- at least temporarily -- when von der Leyen came to Rome last week and met with Conte and other key government figures.
Headlines from the summit focused on apparent concessions von der Leyen regarding European Union policies on migration, calling for a "breath of fresh air" on the topic and a need for European policies that are "effective and efficient but also human." The incoming Commission president said she agreed with Conte's stance that a new solution was needed to be found to divide the responsibilities for dividing migrant arrivals.
"I am aware that countries such as Italy, Spain, and Greece are in geographically exposed situations and we must guarantee solidarity," von der Leyen said.
The issue has been the most high-profile conflict between Rome and Brussels over the last year, with Italy resisting pressure from its European neighbors and almost completely closing its ports to migrant rescue vessels.
"I think von der Leyen's remarks on migrants must have been very welcome in Rome, but it remains to be seen how it will translate to action," Phillip Wilcox, a London-based author specializing on migration issues, told Xinhua. "The Conte government will have to change its policies, which it has shown little appetite for doing, and the European Commission will have to find the 'solidarity' between countries that von der Leyen spoke about."
Even as it is unclear whether von der Leyen's new mandate, which begins Nov. 1, will result in a change in European policies toward migrants, analysts said changes in other areas were even less likely.
"I do not think we should give too much importance to von der Leyen's visit to Rome," Mario Seminerio, an investment manager and political commentator, said in an interview. "It was an institutional visit from a leader eager to find out what is happening in Rome. The problem is, it's not clear what is happening in Rome."
Seminerio went on: "I think she would just like to see Italy prevent its budget deficit from growing too large and for the country not to cause problems for other European Union member states," he said.
Lorenzo Castellani, a professor specializing in the history of political institutions at Rome's LUISS University, agreed: "Von der Leyen won by a narrow margin and so she may not have the mandate to push for strong action," he said.
