EU summit sees two-hour dispute over migration policy

During an EU summit in Brussels, European leaders engaged in a protracted dispute lasting over two hours regarding illegal migration policies. The disagreement centered on a push by Italy and Denmark to reform the existing migration pact.

According to Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, a group led by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen sought more aggressive measures. Their proposal aimed to grant member states greater powers to reject asylum requests and increase authority in combating illegal migration, including expanded capabilities for detaining migrants at borders.

This initiative faced significant opposition from Spain. Babiš noted a sharp divide between the proponents of stricter rules—including the Visegrád Group—and the southern wing of the EU. While the European Council eventually reached formal conclusions, Babiš described the negotiations as highly tense, suggesting that at one point it appeared no agreement would be reached.

Babiš also criticized the handling of migration in countries such as Sweden, Germany, and Spain, suggesting that some leaders prioritize migrant interests over their own citizens for electoral reasons.