Brussels: In the margins of the European Council meeting, the President of the Council of Ministers, Giorgia Meloni, convened an informal discussion alongside Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten. The meeting was attended by representatives from Italy, Denmark, the Netherlands, the European Commission, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia, and Sweden, focusing on innovative solutions for migration management.
According to Presidency of the Council of Ministers, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen highlighted the Commission’s work on migration, particularly addressing potential impacts from the Middle East crisis. She emphasized the need for European initiatives to deliver effective and timely responses. Participants reviewed progress over recent months, including the establishment of an EU list of safe countries of origin, the new safe third country concept, the Chisinau Declaration on migration, and the political agreement on the new Return Regulation. Discussions also touched on the integration of EU financial support for innovative migration management solutions in the upcoming Multiannual Financial Framework negotiations.
President Meloni underscored the urgency of transitioning from rule definition to implementation, with a focus on the Return Regulation. She referenced a joint letter sent with Prime Minister Frederiksen and 17 other EU Heads of State and Government, advocating for the swift launch of concrete pilot projects. There was also interest in exploring joint return centers in third countries, indicating a collaborative approach to address migration challenges.