<span style="color: #222222;">France recalled its ambassador to Rome yesterday in a move unprecedented since World War II saying it was fed up with "repeated, baseless" attacks by Italian political leaders on the country. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The move came amid mounting tensions between the two European Union members after Italy's deputy Prime Minister met French yellow vest protesters. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">France's foreign ministry recalled its ambassador to Rome for consultations after a series of comments from Italy's two deputy prime ministers, Luigi Di Maio and Matteo Salvini.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Di Maio and Salvini, who formed a populist coalition government together last year, have repeatedly criticised French President Emmanuel Macron, who has, in turn, targeted their "eurosceptic actions" before high-stakes European Parliament elections in May.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The latest spat erupted on Tuesday after Di Maio, head of the anti-establishment Five Star Movement, revealed he had met "yellow vest" anti-government protesters outside Paris.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">He said the aim was to prepare a common front for European Parliament elections in May, while boasting on Twitter "the wind of change has crossed the Alps."</span>