Meloni summons those “like-minded” to his immigration policy to a meeting with Von der Leyen prior to the summit at 27

BRUSSELS, 16 ()

Tomorrow the leaders of the European Union will address a complicated “strategic” debate on migration to which many of the partners come calling for a tightening of asylum and deportation policies but propose conflicting solutions; in an event that will begin with a first meeting in a reduced format promoted by the Italian Georgia Meloni and which will be joined by the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.

On his first day in Brussels, Meloni assured this Wednesday in statements to the press that “many countries are observing” the migration policies that Italy is carrying out in recent days, which is why he has decided to convene together with the leaders of the Netherlands and Denmark to the “like-minded” countries to a first meeting prior to the formal European Council.

Although the organizers have resisted confirming a closed list of attendees, various diplomatic sources consulted by Europa Press indicate that around a dozen countries will attend, including Poland, Hungary, Malta and Greece; and even the German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, has been invited.

On the contrary, it is taken for granted that the Baltic countries will not attend because they have planned another previous meeting, nor will the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, who flatly rejects creating deportation centers outside the European Union to transfer irregular migrants. those who have been denied asylum but are pending expulsion to the country of origin or transit.

Also from the European capital, the Prime Minister of Slovenia, Robert Golob, has been one of the few leaders who has taken the floor to express his doubts regarding detention centers in third countries, an idea mentioned by Von der Leyen in a letter to leaders to invite them to open reflection on “innovative” solutions, as 14 countries in the bloc have requested in recent weeks in a joint document.

In her letter, the head of the community Executive asked the 27 to “draw lessons” from Italy’s experience with Albania, in reference to the agreement by which Meloni’s far-right government has agreed to the transfer to this country of migrants rescued by the Italian authorities. at sea while their expulsion files are resolved.

“It is not a final solution, Albania is not an island where you can lock up migrants so I would say it is a temporary solution,” Golob warned, speaking to the press upon his arrival in Brussels on Wednesday.

Once the meeting begins at 27, the heads of State and Government of the EU will have on the table a text of conclusions that in its first drafts includes several references to migration policy but that could be eliminated from the final wording due to reservations. from delegations such as Poland, which ask for an open debate and leave the statements for later when the discussions lead to concrete proposals.

The latest version that has circulated and seen by Europa Press points out the need for actions “at all levels to facilitate, increase and accelerate returns” through the use of all relevant policies and EU instruments, while calling on Brussels to present a new legislative proposal on the matter “as a matter of urgency.”

Although there are no express references to the deportation centers that Von der Leyen pointed out in her letter nor does it include the expression “innovative solutions” used by countries that ask for tougher measures, the draft does ask to consider “new ways to prevent and contain migration irregular”, in respect of EU and International Law.

The reference that appeared in the first versions seen by Europa Press regarding the need to accelerate the application of the Migration and Asylum Pact – as requested by Spain – whose entry into force is scheduled for 2026 has also fallen from the text; although it “underlines the importance of implementing the legislation adopted in the EU and applying existing legislation.”

It is worth remembering that in recent months, several governments have moved away from the common rules on migration and asylum, with the Netherlands and Hungary asking for exceptions not to apply the newly negotiated Pact and the warning from Brussels that this would not be possible without a reform of the Treaties.

Poland has joined the fray by announcing this week its intention to suspend asylum rules on its border with Belarus – as Finland did in July – due to migratory pressure that it attributes to “hybrid attacks” orchestrated by Russia and Belarus to instrumentalize migration. .