Key facts
- Italian PM Giorgia Meloni clashed with Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez over Spain's legalization of 500,000 asylum-seekers.
- Meloni requested a debate on the migration policy's impact on other EU countries.
- Sánchez stated the legalized migrants were primarily from South America, not Africa.
- Spain opposes EU plans for offshore deportation hubs.
- The EU recently approved legislation for deportation hubs in third countries.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni confronted Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez during a closed-door EU leaders' meeting in Brussels over Madrid's decision to legalize approximately 500,000 asylum-seekers. Meloni sought a debate on the migration policy's consequences for other EU nations, while Sánchez defended the move, noting the migrants were largely from South America rather than Africa. A Spanish government spokesperson confirmed Sánchez's defense of the policy, which is known to differ from many other EU governments.