The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, indicated Di Maio for the post in a letter to the 27 member states.

“Following very careful deliberation, I consider that the best-suited candidate is Mr Luigi Di Maio,” wrote Borrell.

“As former foreign minister of Italy, Mr Di Maio has the necessary political profile at the international level for this role,” he added.

Di Maio's “broad contacts” with Gulf countries “will allow him to engage with the relevant actors at the appropriate level,” continued Borrell.

“We have to maintain the momentum of our enhanced engagement with the Gulf. I therefore count on your support to Mr Di Maio in implementing our strategic partnership with Gulf partners,” he added, proposing the appointment of Di Maio “for an initial period of 21 months”, starting on June 1, 2023 until February 28, 2025.

The letter marks the start of the selection phase and, according to sources close to the dossier, ratification of Di Maio's appointment is not expected to take place at the Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg on Monday.

Ratification must be endorsed by all 27 member states.

Borrell's choice of Di Maio for the role met mixed reactions from politicians on Sunday, with some hailing the choice as good news and others describing it as “an insult” to Italy.

“If Europe chooses an Italian as its special envoy, it is certainly good news for the country as a whole, unless we want to once again export our petty quarrels to the EU level,” Senator and former Lower House Speaker Pier Ferdinando Casini, said.

“Good luck to Luigi Di Maio with his work,” Ettore Rosato of the centrist formation Action-IV, said.

“Having an Italian there is always good news for our country,” he added.

Former foreign minister and Lower House Speaker Gianfranco Fini said he was “delighted”.

“I hope he is up to such a difficult task, it will be interesting to see how he will perform the mandate,” said Fini during current affairs talk show 'Mezz'ora in più' on Rai 3.

However centre-right Forza Italia Senator Maurizio Gasparri described the choice as “absurd and shameful”.

“It disqualifies the proponents and the European Union itself,” he added.

“Di Maio is totally inadequate. The mere fact of considering him casts ridicule on those who do so. Enough of these incapable armchair grabbers,” Gasparri said.

The right-wing League also described the choice as “shameful”.

“Italians have voted: they have chosen and continue to choose the centre-right, not the left or grillini (the M5S, the party founded by former comedian Beppe Grillo to which Di Maio once belonged),” League sources said.

“The indication from Brussels is shameful, an insult to Italy and to thousands of good diplomats,” the sources added.

ANSA