The Twenty-Seven completed a political agreement this Wednesday, addressing crisis management and the response to the mass arrival of irregular migrants. The deal, designed to regulate asylum procedures and migration management, gave European leaders a brief breathing space as negotiations neared a conclusion. Italy remains dissatisfied and pressing for stricter immigration measures, arguing that the focus should be on halting illegal arrivals rather than rehashing how to distribute people who reach Europe illegally. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni underscored that Italy supported rules that are tougher than the previous framework and reiterated the aim to curb illegal immigration while avoiding endless discussions on redistribution. Meloni spoke during the third meeting of the European Political Community and used the moment to push for stronger border controls. [citation: European Council briefing, 2024]
Meloni leveraged the occasion to hold discussions with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, along with Dutch premier Mark Rutte and Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama. The bilateral gathering broadened into a wider, multilateral dialogue on potential operational steps to combat human trafficking, according to diplomatic sources who described the format as open to additional European leaders. The event brought together two EU member states and two non-EU countries, as well as two frontline southern nations facing migrant inflows and two northern neighbors affected by secondary movements. In a surprising turn, Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, and Emmanuel Macron, the French president, attended. [citation: Diplomatic sources, 2024]
Inside the talks, Italian and British conservatives voiced support for tighter immigration policies. They stressed that the challenges cross borders and require European-level solutions. The British prime minister warned that migration to the continent is at its highest level in nearly a decade and condemned the criminal networks that profit from smuggling. He emphasized that Europe cannot allow criminal gangs to decide who lands on its shores and called for reinforced intelligence sharing and closer operational cooperation among Belgium, Bulgaria, and Serbia. [citation: EU press briefing, 2024]
Tunisia Controversy
Around the margins of the European Political Community meeting, Meloni also met Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky and was set to hold talks with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Friday about immigration and the strategic path forward. The discussions took place ahead of the informal European Council convened during Spain’s six-month EU presidency. Meloni arrived to find the text agreeing on crisis management at the borders, a result she described as a sign of collective resolve and mutual support. Yet she cautioned that more could be done and urged the EU to push further to curb migrant arrivals. [citation: EU presidency notes, 2024]
The recently brokered agreement between the European Union and Tunisia, drafted with direct involvement from Meloni and Rutte and signed on July 18, has stirred considerable comment. It contains provisions to curb irregular migration and allocate 785 million euros, with 105 million earmarked for education, border control, and the fight against human trafficking gangs. Critics, including the European Ombudsman, requested clarification on the human rights implications, and the European Parliament labeled the agreement unacceptable for not fully respecting EU human rights standards. These concerns continue to shape the debate around the partnership with Tunisia. [citation: European Ombudsman statement, 2024]
As the agenda moves forward, immigration remains slated for discussion on Friday among European leaders at Meloni’s invitation. The draft declaration for the informal summit frames irregular migration as a shared European challenge that requires a unified response. It also signals a clear intent to strengthen cooperation with third countries of origin and transit to address the underlying flows. The emphasis is on immediate, decisive action rather than isolated national efforts. The tone from Rome and other capitals reflects a commitment to sustain momentum and pursue practical measures that reduce illegal crossings while protecting human rights. [citation: informal summit draft, 2024]