Spain and Italy align on immigration as Sánchez and Meloni meet

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni met in Rome, presenting a united front on immigration policy despite their differing political ideologies. Sánchez, whose country was preparing to assume the EU presidency, emphasized the importance of a "European response" to irregular immigration, a significant step he noted had been achieved.

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When Italy and Spain are together, they are stronger.

Meloni echoed Sánchez's sentiment, highlighting a "great convergence" between Italy and Spain. Both leaders stressed that Mediterranean nations should not be solely responsible for managing the external borders of the European Union. This alignment on immigration, a key objective for both governments, underscored their shared approach to the issue.

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an important step: clandestine immigration has been recognized as a European problem, which requires a European response.

The meeting showcased a pragmatic approach to foreign policy, where national interests and EU-level cooperation intersected. Despite the far-right leaning of Meloni's government and the left-leaning executive in Spain, the two leaders found common ground on a critical issue facing the bloc. Their collaboration signals a potential for coordinated action on immigration within the EU framework.

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great convergence