Leaders and representatives nine southern countries The European Union (EU) met in Malta this Friday to find common positions in light of the informal Heads of State summit to be held in Granada on 6 October, which will bring together the entire European club. The meeting called Med9 has ended without special agreements but there is a common call to accelerate negotiations on the new Pact on Asylum and Migration to find “a deal” Before the end of the current mandate of the European Commission. Additional efforts were likewise called for. We face both migration flows and natural disasters.
This is why the statements of the French president Emanuel Macron and the Italian president are: Giorgia Meloni. On the immigration front, “this is a exceptional circumstances, especially on (Italy’s island) Lampedusa. Therefore, there needs to be a single response (from the EU). “We must all show solidarity to Italy and all countries that are destination ports,” Macron said. “Without structural solutions “Destination countries will be hit first, then others will be hit,” Meloni said.
“We must work with Africa,” the right-wing politician continued. And I agree “European repatriation agreementsand it was not signed (bilaterally) by the countries,” he illustrated. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis also told him, “I agree with what Macron and Meloni said.”
climate change
In another episode, Mitzotakis also asked:a solid collaboration“and coordinated”long-termTo confront the consequences of the climate crisis, after the fires and terrible floods their country experienced this summer. “Not just words Funds are also needed,” concluded Slovenia’s Robert Golob, touching on both the migration issue and the climate crisis. “The migration issue needs to be confronted once and for all,” Maltese Robert Abela said. “And funds need to be found for natural disasters,” he added.
In this regard, Spain. In particular, Spain’s EU Minister of Foreign Affairs Pascual Ignacio Navarro, who attended the meeting on behalf of Pedro Sánchez, said that what needs to be done is “as follows”: Review (EU) balance sheet 2021-2027” and are looking for “support from other members” of the European club.
South vs North
But the second may not be that simple. On the immigration front, the Malta meeting actually coincided with the following period: Italy he raised his voice again within the EU after mass arrivals in Lampedusa. Taking this as a start, Rome and Paris in recent weeks have signaled that they want to put the disputes of the past behind them and agree on common policies on the situation.
But it wasn’t the same with GermanyA country Meloni is with these days various disputes also following Berlin’s decision to allocate funds to NGOs rescuing immigrants in Italy. Something that Rome looks down on.
“Yesterday (Thursday) I had some talks with (German Prime Minister Olaf) Scholz, because Germany presented some changes (to the Asylum and Immigration Pact).), especially someone who states that to NGOsThis represents a step backwards for us,” Meloni said. However, Meloni reminded that Med9 countries represent “46% of Europe’s population and 41% of EU GDP.”