Rome: New solutions for migration management at the European Council.

On the sidelines of the European Council, the President of the Council, Giorgia Meloni, promoted a informal meeting with some member states particularly interested in developing innovative solutions for managing the migration phenomenon. The meeting was also attended by the Prime Ministers of Denmark, Mette Frederiksen, and the Netherlands, Dick Schoof, together with representatives of Cyprus, Greece, Malta, the Czech Republic, Poland, Sweden and Hungary, as well as the European Commission.

The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, illustrated the main lines of work contained in his recent Letter on Migration, with particular attention to the proposal for a new legal framework for repatriations, which will be presented in the early months of 2025.

During the meeting, President Meloni underlined the importance of proceeding quickly towards the presentation and finalization of the legislative proposal, highlighting the need to countering the “business model” of human traffickers. This measure aims not only to stop irregular migration, but also to ensure that European reception focuses on those entitled to international protection.

The discussion focused on the urgency of having an increasingly clear and effective European regulatory framework, with particular attention to strengthening the concepts of Safe country of origin and safe third country. Innovative solutions were also discussed, such as the collaboration model between Italy and Albania and the possible creation of “returns hubs” in third countries.

Particular interest was expressed in strengthening European action along migratory routes, with the support of UNHCR and IOM, to encourage assisted voluntary repatriations.

The Leaders present welcomed both the Letter from President von der Leyen and the Conclusions on migration to be approved by the European Council. The shared objective is to strengthen and make the European Union's migration policy increasingly effective., maintaining a constant and operational dialogue between the Member States.