Iran: EU pre‑summit on migration; Italy and partners prepare for potential crises

Brussels – Avoiding a repeat of the migration crisis of 2015, and being ready to respond in an orderly and coordinated manner, whatever the situation. The war launched by Israel and the US against Iran, together with Israeli military manoeuvres in Lebanon, are causing concern among EU heads of state and government, starting with the Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, who, ahead of the EU leaders’ summit, chose to host a specific meeting on the immigration dossier with 15 other partners. 

The pre-summit summit was hosted by Italy together with Denmark and the Netherlands, and was attended by Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Germany, Greece, Poland, Latvia, Malta, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Sweden, and Hungary, as well as the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. This format is not new, neither in the convening nor in the participants. It has become customary to use the European Council summit to take stock of migration management policies, but the context changes and the focus inevitably shifts.

 Meloni and Prime Ministers Mette Frederiksen (Denmark) and Rob Jettenper (the Netherlands) sought to emphasise the need to “step up European support for the populations affected by the conflict in the Middle East,” according to EU sources. This translates into support in various forms – financial, logistical, and infrastructural – for the countries at the centre of attacks and military operations. For this reason, as with a potential migration crisis, the watchword is “coordination.” A concept on which Meloni has placed great emphasis, to avoid acting in a disorganised manner and to ensure an effective response to the current situation.

 The meeting held on the sidelines of today’s European Council (19 March) thus confirms fears regarding the repercussions – not only economic – of a war which, partly for this reason, heads of state and government also do not wish to become involved in. Fears of waves of new asylum seekers help to explain why Europeans prefer the diplomatic route.