Global Courant
On Wednesday, the prime ministers of Italy and Poland said the European Union should prioritize efforts to stop illegal migration rather than focus on persuading member states to share responsibility for unauthorized arrivals.
Prime Minister Georgia Meloni, Italy’s right-wing leader, visited Warsaw to meet her conservative Polish counterpart, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki.
Italy, being one of the first destinations for asylum seekers crossing the Mediterranean Sea to reach Europe, is looking to reduce the number of their arrivals.
Last week, Poland and Hungary vetoed a statement by EU leaders on priorities for curbing immigration into the European Union.
In addition, both countries voted against an agreement on June 8 that aimed to strike a balance between the obligations of frontline countries and the requirement that other member states provide support.
Governments in Warsaw and Budapest insist that preventing people from entering the EU is a better approach.
After her talks with Moraiecki, Meloni said she thinks the bloc will not be able to “find a real solution” to the situation with immigrants.
“I believe that our position is basically the same. We want to stop illegal migration,” said Meloni. Referring to the position of the Polish government, she added: “I cannot help but defend someone who defends national interests.”
Moraëiecki said it was “fundamental” for his government to “seal off” the EU’s external borders and that the government also objected to a provision in the June deal that calls for fining countries that refuse to host some asylum seekers €20,000 per person.
Poland has accepted millions of war refugees from Ukraine, about 1.2 million of whom have registered and received the right to live, work, attend school and receive social benefits.
Moraëiecki said his government will hold a referendum this year asking Poles for their opinion on accepting immigrants who have entered the EU illegally.
The two leaders also spoke at a meeting of the Group of European Conservatives and Reformists, an alliance of the EU Parliament./ REL
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