Meloni to attend Med9 summit amid migrant spat with Berlin

(ANSA) - ROME, SEP 29 - Premier Giorgia Meloni on Friday is attending the EUMed9 summit in Malta with the leaders of the nine Mediterranean and Southern European Union member states that make up the group, with migrants set to be on the agenda amid a major spat between Rome and Berlin over this issue.
    Rome has asked for time to consider the compromise on the new Pact on Migration and Asylum proposed by the Spanish presidency of the EU that went in in the direction requested by Germany, meaning the agreement was not approved on Thursday as had been expected.
    Germany's requests regarded greater protection for migrants once they arrive and the defence of NGOs carrying out rescues at sea.
    The latter issue has been a cause of significant tension as Rome took exception to Berlin's decision to fund NGOs working with migrants in Italy, including a German one conducting rescues at sea.
    Premier Giorgia Meloni wrote to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz Monday saying that she was "amazed" that Berlin had made the decision without liaising with the Italian government.
    The Italian government has said there is a danger of NGO rescue-missions being a "magnet" to migrant boats.
    Italian government sources said they were "surprised" on Thursday that seven NGO ships flying the German flag were in waters between Libya, Tunisia and Italy "while negotiations were taking pace on the pact on migrants".
    Proposed by the European Commission in 2020, the New Pact on Migration and Asylum aims to create a fairer, more efficient and more sustainable migration and asylum process for the European Union, with an emphasis on solidarity and responsibility sharing among member states.
    However, negotiations have been slow amid deep divisions within the bloc about how to proceed, with strong opposition especially from Hungary and Poland.
    Italy is struggling to manage an almost 100% increase in the number of migrants and refugees arriving on its southern shores so far this year compared to the same period in 2022.
    The Pact would seek to ease pressure on Italy and other countries facing large numbers of migrant arrivals, such as Greece, by relocating people to other parts of the EU.
    States that refuse to do their bit would would have to pay for each migrant they do not receive. (ANSA).