The European Union needs to focus on preventing illegal migration rather than trying to convince member states to accept unauthorized arrivals, according to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki. Meloni met with Morawiecki in Warsaw on Wednesday to discuss the issue. Italy, a primary entry point for asylum-seekers crossing the Mediterranean, is seeking to decrease the number of arrivals.
Poland and Hungary recently vetoed an EU statement on managing migration, and both countries voted against a June agreement that sought to balance the responsibilities of frontline states with the requirement for other nations to offer assistance. These governments argue that preventing entry into the EU is a more effective strategy. Meloni believes that once migrants are within Europe, finding a workable solution becomes significantly more challenging. She echoed Morawiecki's stance, emphasizing the importance of stopping illegal immigration and defending national interests.
Morawiecki stressed the critical need for secure EU external borders and expressed opposition to the provision in the June agreement that would impose fines on countries refusing to accept asylum-seekers. Poland has welcomed millions of Ukrainian war refugees, granting them rights to live, work, study, and access social benefits. A referendum is planned for later this year to gauge public opinion on accepting migrants who entered the EU illegally, coinciding with Poland's upcoming parliamentary elections.
Beyond migration, the two leaders also discussed regional security concerning the war in Ukraine and the country's pursuit of NATO security guarantees, a key topic leading up to the upcoming NATO summit in Lithuania. They also addressed a gathering of the European Conservatives and Reformists Group within the EU Parliament.
