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.
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