“Many countries are observing the policies that Italy has pursued in recent years regarding migration,” he boasts. Giorgia Meloni. Taking advantage of the growing interest generated by its agreement with Albania to open detention centers for migrants there, which even Ursula von der Leyen considers that it could serve as a model for the rest of the EU, the Italian Prime Minister convened this Thursday a parallel mini-summit with the countries “more interested in the migratory phenomenon.” A meeting prior to the European Council at which Pedro Sanchez He does not plan to attend because he defends a policy diametrically opposed to that of Meloni in the fight against irregular arrivals, according to diplomatic sources.
In addition to Meloni, the counter-summit on migration is organized by the Danish Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksenwho, like Sánchez, belongs to the socialist family; and by the Dutch Prime Minister, Dick Schoofwho leads a right-wing and far-right coalition government. The President of the Commission herself, who plays the role of guardian of the treaties, confirmed her presence at the meeting. The final list of participants is not yet closed, but the organizers expect at least half a dozen leaders, including Poles or Greeks. Also on the guest list is the German Chancellor, also a socialist. Olaf Scholzalthough it is not yet clear whether he will participate. If confirmed, Sánchez would be the only big to be completely out of the game.
“It seems that there will be a great participation. There is a desire to work on pragmatic solutions and to see the results of this work. As Italy has shown that it knows how to do, with the collaboration of the European Commission, so we must thank Ursula von der Leyen for the work she has helped us do over the years and which is obviously bearing fruit. When the results come in, many others understand us and want to help us“, celebrated Meloni during an appearance at the summit between the EU and the Gulf countries held this Wednesday in Brussels.
The Italian Prime Minister regretted that the EU had wasted many years in a “very lively debate” on distribution of migrantswhich, according to him, does not solve the problem but rather shifts it from one Member State to another. On the other hand, she maintains that it is about finding a solution to the migration problem for the entire EU, which, according to her, is being achieved with Italian recipes. In 2024, the percentage of irregular migrant arrivals in Italy decreased by 60% compared to 2023 and by 30% compared to 2022according to their figures. A fall to which the EU agreements with Tunisia and Egypt also contributed.
On the other hand, Sánchez asserts that the ‘Meloni Model’ Creating migrant centers outside the EU does not reduce the arrival of migrants nor is it a solution to anything. The Prime Minister does not plan to attend the mini-summit organized by the Italian Prime Minister in Brussels, even if he minimizes this absence because he was already with her at the MED9 club summit in Cyprus last week. Sánchez will defend in Brussels a preventive policy based on comprehensive agreements with countries of origin and transit, as well as the creation of legal migratory routes, according to diplomatic sources.
The President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, during the summit between the EU and the Gulf countries this Wednesday in Brussels
However, the President of the Government finds himself facing the European Council in a position of uncomfortable isolation. In a few months, The immigration debate has radically shifted toward increasingly hardline positions.coinciding with the rise of the far right in countries like France, Germany, the Netherlands, Austria and Italy itself. The vast majority of governments now consider that the Pact on Migration and Asylum, approved by the Spanish presidency at the end of 2023, but which will not come into full force until 2026, is already overtaken by events. And they demand more and stricter measures to stop irregular arrivals.
“New ways to prevent and counter irregular migration should be considered, in accordance with international and European law,” read the draft European Council conclusions. THE “innovative solutions” This is the new euphemism used by European leaders to refer to measures such as those adopted by the Meloni government.
