Prime Minister Antonio Costa will discuss new community rules on migration this Friday with counterparts from eight other Mediterranean and southern European Union (EU) countries in Malta following progress towards a new common migration pact.
The Southern European Union Summit (MED9), which, in addition to Portugal, includes the heads of government and state of Croatia, Cyprus, France, Greece, Malta, Italy, Slovenia and Spain, will take place this Friday in Valletta. , the capital of Malta, at a time of migration pressure and when Rome is pushing for a common and consistent position to better manage migration.
In fact, Italy is one of the countries that remains most reticent when it comes to the EU’s New Pact on Migration and Asylum, after Germany backed down on Thursday and said it would vote for a compromise proposal to resolve the crisis. part that has yet to be approved to complete the reform of the Community Rules on Migration.
The dossier has now been submitted to representatives of EU member states with the aim of reaching a final agreement by the European elections in June 2024 on a fair distribution of responsibilities between member states and support in addressing migration flows.
Taking into account what was previously proposed, the text currently being discussed excludes solidarity quotas for the resettlement of illegal migrants, providing for various forms of financial compensation.
This will be one of the issues that will mark the MED9 summit.
The meeting comes after more than 10,000 migrants arrived on the Italian island of Lampedusa in just three days in the middle of this month, bringing the EU migration debate back into the spotlight.
The European Commission then announced an action plan to combat illegal immigration in Lampedusa, which includes increased support for Italy, as well as the implementation of the memorandum of understanding signed between the EU and Tunisia.
Tunisia is one of the main departure points for illegal migrants to Europe along the Eastern Mediterranean route. In July, Tunisia signed a memorandum of understanding with the EU, in which Italy was a key player, to combat migrant trafficking in exchange for funds for the country of at least 700 million euros in EU funds.
The Central Mediterranean route is used by migrants and asylum seekers to reach the EU from North Africa to European territories such as Malta and the Italian regions of Lampedusa, Calabria and Sicily.
Created in 2013, the MED9 alliance brings together nine member states belonging to the Mediterranean basin, the eurozone and the Schengen area (excluding Cyprus).
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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