Immigration: Italy secures EU backing to avert crisis tied to Iran conflict

Brussels – “Italy has made a significant contribution” to the issue of immigration. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni leaves Brussels satisfied: the summit of European Union heads of state and government has drawn even greater attention to the crisis in the Middle East, specifically to an aspect that had previously received little attention – that of potential flows of asylum seekers. “There is obviously a potential impact of the crisis on the migration front too,” the Prime Minister stressed at the close of the meeting, which ended satisfactorily.

 The final conclusions were expanded to include a brand-new paragraph, not present in previous versions, in which everyone commits to working to avert the worst. “While the conflict has not translated into immediate migratory flows towards the
European Union, the European Council underlines the importance of maintaining a high
level of vigilance and ensuring the necessary level of preparedness, based on the tools
and policies that the EU developed over the past years.” This passage, Meloni summarises, is “a clear reference to the fact that Europe must today prevent a possible migration crisis.” 

The reference, included in the section on Iran and the Middle East, which effectively reflects the meeting chaired and hosted by Italy, Denmark, and the Netherlands ahead of the European Council meeting with 12 other EU partners, was specifically intended to address the Israeli-American conflict in the Gulf from the perspective of its impact on displaced persons and refugees. 

The watchword is therefore “strengthening external borders,” the Prime Minister emphasises once again. The EU’s ability to prevent and control migration flows lies in fortifying its borders, a concept shared by everyone: “The
security and the control of the European Union’s external borders will continue to be
strengthened,”  all 27 leaders assure in the conclusions. In this endeavour, “the EU is ready
to fully mobilise its diplomatic, legal, operational and financial tools to prevent
uncontrolled migratory movements to the EU and preserve security in Europe.” The Italian initiative, led jointly with Denmark, is therefore bearing fruit. And Meloni can leave Brussels satisfied.