Watch FIFA World Cup 2026™

LIVE, FREE and EXCLUSIVE starting June 12 2026

Italy's PM welcomes new EU migration deal

European Union leaders have reached an agreement on migration policy, after almost 10 hours of talks at a summit in Brussels.

European Council President Donald Tusk (L) and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker (R) during an European Council summit in Brussels.
European Council President Donald Tusk (L) and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker (R) during an European Council summit in Brussels. Source: EPA

European Union leaders have reached a crucial deal on steps to tackle migration, after resolving a bitter row with Italy's hardline new prime minister.

Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, who heads a month-old populist and anti-immigration government, had vetoed joint conclusions for the entire agenda of the summit in Brussels until his demands were met.

Italy has recently refused to let several migrant rescue boats dock at its ports, demanding that the responsibility for people arriving across the Mediterranean should be shared between other countries.

Twelve hours after talks began, EU President Donald Tusk said on Twitter that "EU28 leaders have agreed on... conclusions" including migration.

Leaders said that new migrant centres could be set up in EU countries on a "voluntary" basis.

These centres would process migrants to determine which are genuine refugees and which are "irregular migrants, who will be returned", the text of their agreement says.

The joint communique also speaks of restricting the movement of asylum seekers between EU states.


1 min read

Published

Updated

By Euna Cho

Source: AFP, SBS



Share this with family and friends


Follow SBS Korean

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our exclusive in-language podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

Korean News

Watch it onDemand

Stream now