Italy and Denmark Call for Stricter EU Migration Policies and Third-Country Repatriation Centres

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen have reaffirmed their countries’ opposition to uncontrolled illegal migration into Europe.

The two leaders also called for changes to the European human rights convention in order to increase deportations.

“We do not accept uncontrolled immigration into Europe and have called for strict migration policies both in our countries and in Europe,” the two leaders said in a joint statement posted on Meloni’s social media account on Monday (10/8).

According to the two prime ministers, illegal migration has a negative impact on European societies, particularly by contributing to rising crime, increasing the burden on public services and undermining citizens’ trust.

Europeans expect concrete action from politicians on migration and security, Meloni and Frederiksen said.

“It is necessary to create repatriation centres in third countries, as well as to implement other innovative solutions outside Europe. We are actively working on this,” the two leaders said.

Meloni and Frederiksen reaffirmed their commitment to advancing solutions that will ensure greater security for European societies, particularly for the most vulnerable groups.

“Together, we have succeeded in shifting the balance in the application of the European Convention on Human Rights against foreign nationals who commit serious crimes. As a result, the number of deportations has increased,” the statement said.

At the end of July, Ceuta—a Spanish enclave in North Africa—experienced a crisis due to a large wave of migrants from neighbouring Morocco.

Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said that around 72,000 migrants had entered Ceuta, and around 70,000 people had returned to Morocco.

Moroccan authorities estimated that around 40,000 people had entered the Spanish enclave.

In response to the migration crisis, Italy imposed additional checks on passengers and vehicles arriving from Spain.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said that checks on ships and aircraft from Spain would continue at least until Saturday (15/8) amid reports of possible new attempts at mass border crossings.