Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has said that she respects countries defending their interests in relation to the controversial EU Migration Pact, adding that there is a need to invest in the countries from which migrants originate instead of forcing countries to receive new arrivals en masse.
The Italian premier told press on Tuesday that Europe should invest its efforts in preventing boats from embarking on perilous journeys from North Africa, insisting this is both in Italy’s interests and a priority for Europe.
Meloni acknowledged that there was no consensus on dealing with migration within the EU and said that this was predictable since it was difficult to satisfy everyone.
She said that she understood the stance taken by Poland and Hungary in defense of their interests, adding that it was inevitable nations would press their case at the European Council and that she always respects the positions of other nations.
Meloni felt that the European Commission was partly to blame for the Polish and Hungarian stance after it failed to provide any financial assistance to those nations overburdened with millions of Ukrainian refugees and it blocked both countries’ post-pandemic EU funds.
She also commented on the riots taking place in France, warning that the scenes showed that migration will take center stage and insisting that only legal and controlled migration could lead to integration. “The alternative is ghettoization and radicalization of future generations,” she added.
Meloni is due to visit Warsaw on Wednesday to discuss the coming NATO summit in Vilnius as well as other EU matters. Her meeting with Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki will include the issue of protecting EU land and sea borders.
