Prime Ministers of Italy and Hungary, Giorgia Meloni and Viktor Orbán met in Rome on Wednesday to discuss key international issues, including the Middle East conflict, Ukraine, and irregular migration.
During the meeting, Meloni and Orbán reaffirmed their support for a peaceful and lasting resolution in Ukraine and emphasised their commitment to the country’s post-war reconstruction. Rome will host the next recovery conference in July 2025.
Meloni also congratulated Orbán on Hungary’s six-month EU Council presidency and acknowledged progress on EU accession talks with Albania and the expansion of the Schengen Area to include Bulgaria and Romania.
Tackling Irregular Migration
Migration was a central topic of the talks, with both leaders calling for enhanced cooperation with countries of origin and transit to address the root causes of irregular migration and combat human trafficking.
The two leaders stressed the need for an updated legal framework to accelerate migrant returns within the EU, particularly by consolidating the concept of safe countries of origin. The ECJ has set a tentative date in February to discuss ‘safe countries’ in light of decisions by Italian magistrates.
Meloni highlighted the importance of the Italy-Albania migration agreement, which aims to speed up asylum processing at Albanian reception centres under Italian jurisdiction. However, challenges remain, as Italian judges have blocked transfers to these centres, citing safety concerns regarding the migrants’ countries of origin, such as Egypt and Bangladesh.
In a joint statement, the leaders said, “We reaffirm the importance of combating irregular migration. Strengthened cooperation with countries of origin and transit is essential to address root causes and prevent irregular departures.”
Commitment to Regional Stability
Meloni and Orbán also discussed the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, expressing their shared support for peaceful resolutions. Both leaders underscored the importance of EU and international collaboration in addressing global challenges.
The meeting, held at Palazzo Chigi, reinforced their commitment to finding practical solutions to migration, reconstruction, and regional stability.
