On the agenda: Italian elections, Martin Selmayr’s new job and a trade war with the U.S.

Italian elections: Margaritis Schinas, the Commission’s chief spokesperson, said the Commission would wait for official results before commenting, which are expected later today. “We have confidence in President [Sergio] Mattarella’s abilities to facilitate the formation of a stable government in Italy, and in the meantime Italy has a government led by [Paolo] Gentiloni, with whom we are working closely,” Schinas said, adding “Keep calm, and carry on.”

Selmayr’s appointment: Schinas denied media reports that Martin Selmayr’s appointment as the new secretary general of the Commission might not have been carried out in the most democratic or transparent manner. “All the legal procedures which stem from the civil servant status have been respected religiously,” Schinas said. “Everything was done by the book, by the rules.”

Transition allowance for ex-commissioners: Schinas denied reports in France’s Libération that Selmayr is finalizing a plan that would in some cases triple the “transition allowance” paid to departing commissioners. “These reports are nonsense, we do not have such plans … It’s not legally possible,” Schinas said.

Trade war with Trump: European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said last week he would “bring forward in the next few days a proposal for WTO-compatible countermeasures against the U.S.,” to hit back against steel and aluminum tariffs announced by U.S. President Donald Trump. On Monday, Schinas said the subject will be on the agenda of the commissioners’ meeting this week, and the EU’s response will be “swift, firm, proportionate” and based along WTO lines. He added: “Trade policy is not about losers and winners. We believe that trade should be win-win.”