(Adnkronos) – Italy’s premier Giorgia Meloni, her Greek and Maltese counterparts Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Robert Abela and the president of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides looked at possible joint action late on Thursday to avert a 2015-style migrant influx to Europe sparked by the escalating Middle East crisis, according to a joint statement.
“While reaffirming the importance of ongoing efforts to achieve a rapid diplomatic solution to the (Middle East) conflict, the four leaders also underlined the need to continue working closely with partners in the region to ensure the necessary assistance and support for the affected populations,” said the statement issued Friday.
“In their capacity as member states situated at the external borders of the European Union and most immediately exposed to potential uncontrolled migration flows towards the Union, they also examined a number of possible measures aimed at safeguarding, if necessary and in full respect of international law, the security and effective management of the EU’s external borders,” the statement continued.
The statement urged “a common European approach in order to maximise the effectiveness of their respective national responses to a possible significant increase in migration flows linked to the conflict in the Middle East” and said the four leaders had told their interior ministers “to continue their close coordination”.
The Italian, Greek, Maltese and Cypriot interior ministers would examine “in cooperation with the European Commission” the best ways to integrate national efforts to combat any migration surge within the framework of the EU’s institutions and law, the statement said.
The four leaders held talks on the sidelines of an informal meeting of heads of state or government taking place on Thursday and Friday in Agia Napa, Cyprus, which will focus on the US-Israel war against Iran which began in late February.
The meeting will center on the geopolitical environment and Europe’s response, the EU 2028-2034 budget. The bloc’s leaders are being joined by key regional partners in the Middle East on Friday “to discuss the situation, shared challenges and emerging opportunities for cooperation,” according to the European Council’s website.
The EU leaders will address the Iran war and the conflict in the wider Middle East, which pose “serious challenges” to the EU and will discuss Europe’s contribution to de-escalation and peace, freedom of navigation in the key Strait of Hormuz oil and gas conduit, and EU instruments to manage the effect of fossil fuel price hikes.
Russia’s more-than-four-year-old occupation of Ukraine and the latest developments in the grinding conflict are also on the meeting agenda, with input from Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky, the European Council website states.
European Council president Antonio Costa is chairing the meeting which is hosted by Christodoulides, whose country holds the rotating Council president until 30 June.
