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.
The exchange occurred shortly after the EU approved new legislation allowing member states to establish deportation hubs in third countries, a measure supported by Italy and Denmark but opposed by Spain due to legal and humanitarian concerns. The discussion also followed Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen's congratulations to European Parliament President Roberta Metsola on passing a draft law facilitating the deportation of rejected asylum-seekers.