Black smoke al European Council. The second day of the EU summit ended, in which there were moments of tension. To divide the theme of migrants – which only yesterday seemed like a happy landing according to the narratives of the Italian government – and which instead remains a very complicated and delicate dossier. And this is what finally blocked the work of the European Council: Poland e Hungary, Countries led by conservative leaders of the same political family as Giorgia Meloni, have preferred not to approve the conclusions of the summit dedicated to immigration. "I am not dissatisfied with those who defend their borders", commented the Italian Prime Minister who, despite the allies' veto, said she was "satisfied". Instead, the part concerning Ukraine and security and defense was approved. The conclusions on "external relations and the Eastern Mediterranean" have also been adopted, i.e. the chapter which considers the agreement under negotiation with the tunisia as a model to be replicated in the future “with partners in the region”.
Migrants, the agreement skips: because Poland and Hungary have said no
Warsaw and Budapest have protested against the pact on the reform of the Dublin regulation which had been approved by a qualified majority, with already the opposition of Poland and Hungary, by the interior ministers of the European Union on 8 June. The Migration and asylum pact provides for the obligation of solidarity, with relocations or the payment of compensation. "We really managed to change our point of view on migration", the prime minister said. But the working dinner of the European leaders which was supposed to ratify the agreement that had been envisaged in the late afternoon ended without no agreement. The two countries refused to sign any final papers unless theirs were addressed perplexity on migration issues. Indeed, they have made it known that they aim to make the relocation of migrants voluntary, thus undermining the concept of compulsory solidarity that underpins the pact.
On the morning of the second day, the Italian premier, at the invitation of the President of the European Council Charles Michel, attempted a negotiation to reach an agreement on the conclusions on migration, but without success, as Meloni herself confirmed at the end of the EU summit: "I tried to mediate until the last minute". And she added: “I am never disappointed by those who defend their national interests. Their position does not concern the external dimension which is the Italian priority and the union is the way to face migration by getting everyone to agree". And even if the Italian prime minister has spoken of a "total turning point", Italy is leaving empty-handed on the issue of migrants.
The comments of Poland and Hungary
"I have no reservations towards my friend Giorgia and I am satisfied with the role she has played because she has always tried to find a compromise" but "we agreed that we do not agree" on the issue of immigration: "We are on everything else,” said the Polish premier, Mateusz Morawiecki, at the end of the European summit. “I wish her good luck with this deal. I don't think – he added – it is the solution because it does not address the root of the problem, but I do not comment on the prerogatives and assessments of the Italian government ”.
"Not a revolt, but a fight for freedom," said the Hungarian premier Viktor Orbán, recalling the conclusions of past summits according to which decisions on the matter would have been taken with the consent of the States.
Relations with China and new supplies to Ukraine
Beyond the dispute over the new migration rules, as far as relations with the China, Michel highlighted that “the fundamental thing is to work all together to express a univocal position. In addition to having to rebalance economic relations with China and defend supplies. Reciprocity must be the key word”. Ursula von der Leyen, following the revolt of Wagner's mercenaries in Russia, believes it is necessary to "double" the support for Ukraine. “At the military level, we have allocated 2 billion euros for the purchase of munitions in Kiev. Soon we will have trained another 13 Ukrainian soldiers and, on the financial side, over 500 days after the war we have mobilized 70 billion euros in favor of Ukraine,” he explained at the press conference at the end of the summit.
Green light for the conclusions on Tunisia
Furthermore, the leaders of the European Council adopted conclusions on "external relations and the Eastern Mediterranean", i.e. the chapter which considers the agreement under negotiation with the tunisia as a model to be replicated in the future “with partners in the region”. The Council, we read, "had a strategic discussion on relations with the southern neighborhood and welcomes the work done for a partnership with Tunisia beneficial to both parties".
