Thekabarnews.com—Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has urged the European Union (EU) to speed up reform of its migration policy. Meloni called on member states to swiftly switch from policy debate to concrete action. In particular, she urged them to combat illegal immigration and tighten border controls.

Meloni spoke on the sidelines of the European Council meeting. There, she had an informal meeting with EU member states with a strong interest in developing innovative solutions for migration management. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten joined her.

“Europe has made great strides recently,” the leaders said, unveiling a raft of new migration policies. These policies aimed to tighten border security and speed up the return of migrants ineligible to remain in the bloc.

The initiatives mentioned included creating a shared list of safe countries and expanding the definition of safe third countries. In addition, they included the Chisinau Declaration, a political agreement on the new EU Return Regulation. Moreover, they called for increasing EU funding for new migration management projects.

“The EU now needs to move to implementation, not just writing rules,” Meloni said.

“We need to accelerate the implementation process. We have to move from regulations to action, and this starts with the implementation of the Return Regulation,” she said.

To this end, Meloni, Frederiksen, and 17 other European heads of state and government signed a joint letter. They urged the European Commission and EU institutions to launch practical pilot projects. These are projects that member states can rapidly implement and replicate.

The proposal also urges the European Union to consider setting up joint centers for returning migrants in third countries. Such facilities could improve coordination between member states. Furthermore, they could make the return process easier for those migrants not entitled to international protection.

One of the most politically sensitive issues in the European Union is still migration. Irregular migration flows across the Mediterranean and other external borders persist. Furthermore, renewed demands for stronger border enforcement and quicker deportation procedures continue to put pressure on some member states.

Italy has long pushed for tougher migration policies. The government says the European Union should beef up its external borders. In addition, it should tackle the root causes of migration through international cooperation.

Meloni repeated Italy’s commitment to work with European partners on a more effective migration framework.

“We will continue to work for a Europe that defends its borders, fights illegal immigration and manages migration with pragmatism and determination,” she said.

The joint initiative is a sign of increasing momentum among several EU governments to tighten migration controls. At the same time, these governments seek to maintain cooperation on asylum procedures and humanitarian responsibilities.

Member states will be looking to convert the recently agreed-upon migration framework into practical measures. The goal is to strike a balance between border security, legal obligations, and international cooperation. This goal will guide negotiations as they continue in EU institutions.

The pilot projects could be a critical test of the bloc’s ability to implement its migration reforms. They could also help the EU respond better to one of Europe’s most intractable policy challenges.

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