Meloni and Sánchez clash over Spain's migrant regularisation at EU summit

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez sparred at a European Council meeting in Brussels over Madrid’s plan to regularise about 500,000 irregular migrants. Meloni criticised the Spanish policy, warning it could affect migration flows in other EU states, while Sánchez defended the scheme, noting a sharp decline in irregular arrivals from Africa in the first quarter of 2026.

The dispute arose alongside the EU’s recent adoption of legislation aimed at speeding up expulsions of rejected asylum seekers and allowing the creation of offshore removal centres. Italy and Denmark have pushed for rapid implementation of these measures, whereas Spain has opposed the offshore‑deportation approach, arguing legal and humanitarian concerns. Both leaders said the encounter was a normal exchange rather than a clash, but the episode highlights growing divisions within the bloc on migration strategy.

The outcome of upcoming European Council sessions will be crucial for shaping a coordinated EU migration policy that balances the contrasting approaches of member states such as Italy and Spain.