Meloni: Italy's Schengen suspension unrelated to asylum seeker returns

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has asserted that the government's decision to suspend Schengen with Spain is distinct from other European nations' intentions to return asylum seekers to Italy under new EU regulations. Meloni, speaking from vacation, outlined a clear communication strategy to address criticisms from opposition leaders.

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Dublin is one thing, Ceuta is another. There is no correlation between the government's decision to suspend Schengen with Spain and the intention of many European countries, there is now a domino effect, to send "Dublinants" to Italy.

Meloni and Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi are working to clarify the legislative framework of the new EU Migration and Asylum Pact, which became operational on June 12. They emphasized that any requests to return asylum seekers to Italy will be assessed individually and with a constructive approach, utilizing all available mechanisms within the new pact, including compensation measures. This stance aims to manage public perception and counter narratives suggesting a direct link between the Schengen suspension and the return of asylum seekers.

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will be evaluated case by case and with a constructive spirit, using all the tools made available by the new discipline, starting with the compensation mechanisms.

Meloni's party, Fratelli d'Italia, is handling the political response to the opposition. Party officials like Carlo Fidanza and Nicola Procaccini have criticized the left-wing opposition's campaign regarding the return of asylum seekers. They argue that the new EU rules, particularly accelerated border procedures and enhanced cooperation with third countries, will significantly reduce the number of individuals potentially returned to Italy. Procaccini stated that Italy will no longer be Europe's "refugee camp" under the new pact, which was supported by the center-right coalition in Strasbourg.

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The number of potential relocations will be drastically reduced thanks to accelerated border procedures that will lead to rapid repatriations and the new EU rules on safe third countries that will be responsible for the applications of migrants who transited through those countries before their illegal entry into the EU territory.