Migrants, Meloni tries to mediate with Poland and Hungary. But the European Union cannot reach an agreement

A ‘No’ from Poland and Hungary leads to the withdrawal of findings on migration from the Council of Europe. Even the mediation that was entrusted to Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, from the same conservative family as Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, as well as close to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, did not take place. Since yesterday evening, the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, seeing the dilemma of separation, asked the Prime Minister to try to convince the two, this morning of a tripartite agreement at the headquarters of the Italian representation in the Palace of Europe, but the attempt was not successful and Meloni returned to the leaders – who were They will also ask for a second exploration – saying that the conclusions will not pass. Hence the trick to advance the conclusions of European Council President Michel, which express the two chapters on migration, have already been strengthened compared to the draft. These “personal” conclusions contain the whole message about the external dimension of migration, defined as a “European challenge requiring a European response”, with a focus on combating the actions of human traffickers, managing external borders and partnerships. Poland’s opposition is not about this aspect – in fact, just yesterday, Morawiecki proposed the EU’s plan to strengthen the external borders – as it is about the Migration and Asylum Pact, on which the EU Council adopted its negotiating position on June 8, with Italy’s consent, especially in the part related to solidarity between member states. Warsaw argues that this law cannot be approved by a qualified majority because European Council conclusions in December 2016, June 2018 and June 2019 – at the leaders’ level – indicated that all decisions on migration must be taken by consensus, that is, without anyone’s dissent. On the other hand, the EU treaties do not provide for unanimity on the issue of migration. On the other hand, Hungary did not want the EU to impose mandatory transfers, the same battle Budapest fought in the Syrian crisis in 2015 and 2016.

Palazzo Chigi’s tenant believes that “Italia’s role was the champion” and “those who have followed the European Council can confirm this.” Meloni also confirmed that for the first time “the demographic dimension is finally mentioned in a document issued by the European Council”. No criticism of the two sovereign allies. She asserts: “I am not disappointed in the position of Poland and Hungary, and I am never disappointed in those who defend their national interests.” “As long as we are looking for solutions on how to manage migrants when they arrive on European soil, we will never find a consensus – he explains -. The only way is to work on the external dimension.” Even the Polish Prime Minister assures that there is no contradiction with his “good friend Georgia”. The government in Rome made its decisions on immigration “in the interest of Italy” and “we therefore agreed not to agree on this very narrow aspect of European politics”, but “to agree on everything else”. Meloni reiterates that there is an “excellent relationship” with Poland and Hungary and that he tried to mediate until the last minute. “It is a work that must continue,” adds the Prime Minister, recalling her visit to Warsaw next Wednesday. “We have made great progress on migration since February. Even if there is no consensus, the debate “showed great convergence” and that “the European Council remains fully committed to this issue and will return to it periodically,” Michel states.

As for the other issues that were taken up in Brussels, the first reports are that the ratification of Libra is a topic that has not been asked of me, so perhaps that means that there is not the same attention we give to it in the debate in Italy. On the other hand, the June 30 deadline for the payment of the third installment of the Pnrr has passed, and the Commission indicated again today that “work is still in progress” with “constructive exchanges with the Italian authorities”, but now in the interventions there is already talk of a request He pays the fourth installment, indicating that the situation has been going on for longer than expected, with all the repercussions of the case.