The leaders of EU countries interested in ‘innovative’ ways of managing migratory flows met again on Thursday 23 October, ahead of the European Summit.
The Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, the Danish Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, and the Dutch Prime Minister, Dick Schoof, organised a new breakfast on these issues with the Commission and the leaders of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Germany, Greece, Latvia, Malta, Poland and Sweden.
According to a note from the Italian government, “in addition to reaffirming Italy’s commitment to innovative solutions, President Meloni informed the meeting of the work in progress on the capacity of international conventions to respond to the challenges of irregular migration and of future initiatives. A meeting of leaders will be held in Rome on 5 November to continue this joint work.”
“It will be an opportunity to take stock of the international conventions and the need to ensure that their implementation also meets the challenges of modern illegal immigration, which were unthinkable when these conventions were drafted and signed by Italy”, Ms Meloni had already explained the day before.
On “this occasion, we will propose to our partners a ‘roadmap’ which should lead, together with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Mr Berset, to an initial political debate on the issue in Strasbourg in the coming months”.
In May, Rome and Copenhagen brought together a group of countries to request a discussion on the Strasbourg Court’s interpretation of the European Convention on Human Rights, which they felt was creating difficulties in returning irregular migrants who had committed crimes (see EUROPE 13648/20).
According to a diplomatic source, Thursday’s discussions focused on “the modernisation of international conventions on migration. The leaders of the informal group will work to raise awareness in other Council of Europe countries”.
Pressure on Parliament. However, the discussion also provided an opportunity, particularly with regard to the regulation on the ‘return’ of irregular migrants in the EU, to call for closer contacts with Parliament to encourage it to speed up its work. “There is a shared feeling of irritation at the slowdown in Parliament on these issues, which are considered essential by leaders”, adds this source.
The Dutch rapporteur, Malik Azmani (Renew Europe), is due to present his report on 10 or 11 November. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)