Meloni: Hope the EU can read the voters' message

Italian Prime Minister Giorgio Meloni says he hopes the European Union will understand the message voters sent in the European Parliament elections.

Speaking at the closing news conference of the Group of Seven (G7) leaders' summit Saturday, Meloni said EU citizens who voted for pragmatism in European Parliament elections over the weekend wanted the bloc to take a less ideological approach on several major issues.

The five-yearly European Parliament elections ended Sunday with far-right parties making strong gains in several European Union countries.

Meloni's nationalist Brothers of Italy party is one of them. Her right-wing government coalition is strongly opposed to the European Green Deal and wants to take a harder line on immigration.

European Union leaders will meet Monday in Brussels, Belgium, to discuss top positions in several key EU institutions, including the president of the European Commission.

The current president of the European Commission is Ursula von der Leyen of Germany. Her centre-right European People's Party retained its position as the largest group in the European Parliament.

Von der Leyen is seeking a second term, and while many analysts believe she is likely to succeed, she still needs to win more support. Italian political observers say Meloni is expected to support von der Leyen, but is unlikely to do so publicly until the post is agreed upon in Rome.

Meloni declined Saturday to reveal her intention to support, saying what she cared about was recognition of Italy's role.