Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi celebrated the recent agreement on the EU’s new Pact on Migration and Asylum, hailing it as a triumph for Italy.
Piantedosi said, “The Pact, born out of extensive negotiations, showcases Italy’s consistent leadership in shaping a balanced solution. Our aim was to alleviate the burden on EU border countries, particularly those facing intense migratory pressures, ensuring they no longer feel isolated.”
Praising Italy’s ability to strike a delicate balance between responsibility and solidarity, Piantedosi said “We successfully navigated through a long-stalled negotiation, marking a significant achievement for both Europe and Italy. The approval of the Pact equips Italy with new regulations to manage migratory flows and combat human trafficking.” Notably, the Pact dictates that the first EU country a migrant or refugee enters is responsible for processing their case.
New solidarity mechanism
The Minister highlighted the creation of a new solidarity mechanism among Member States, aiming to rectify the imbalance where a few countries, including Italy, bear the brunt of asylum applications due to their geographical location. Under this mechanism, certain migrants will be relocated to other EU countries, and nations refusing entry will be required to provide a financial contribution.
The comprehensive agreement covers five key aspects of the Pact, encompassing the Screening Regulation for uniform rules on the identification of non-EU nationals, the Eurodac Regulation establishing a common database to enhance security within the Schengen area, the Asylum Procedures Regulation for expedited asylum, return, and border procedures, the Asylum Migration Management Regulation outlining the solidarity mechanism, and the Crisis and Force Majeure Regulation ensuring EU preparedness for future crises, including the instrumentalisation of migrants.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen lauded the collective strength of Europe. She said, “Europe is a robust community capable of formidable responses to significant challenges.”
Von der Leyen welcomed the timely political agreement, stating, “Our goal was to find a fair and pragmatic approach to managing migration within the EU. This marks a crucial step in equipping Europe with the tools necessary to address migration effectively.”
