The prime ministers of Denmark and Italy are urging the European Union to tighten its borders, warning that the war in the Middle East could trigger a fresh surge of migrants and refugees toward Europe. In a joint letter, Mette Frederiksen and Giorgia Meloni said the bloc “cannot risk a repeat” of the 2015-2016 crisis, when hundreds of thousands of people fled conflicts particularly the Syrian civil war and arrived on Europe’s shores.
Both leaders, who have significantly reduced immigration in their own countries, called on the European Commission to approve a €458 million humanitarian aid package aimed at stabilising conditions in the Middle East and slowing population movements toward Europe. They warned that the current conflict sparked by US and Israeli bombardments of Iran in late February is unfolding in a region already hosting millions of displaced people.
“The ongoing conflict in the Middle East is increasingly worrying,” they wrote, adding that another mass movement of refugees “would not only be a humanitarian catastrophe” but could also threaten the EU’s security and social cohesion.
They stressed that Europe must be ready to act if the situation deteriorates further. “We cannot afford to be taken by surprise as in the past. This means further strengthening our borders.”
Frederiksen and Meloni, joined by Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten, held informal talks with several EU countries and the European Commission to explore “innovative” ways to limit migration in light of the escalating conflict.
Their warning echoes comments made earlier this month by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who said a potential collapse of Iran could have “far‑reaching consequences,” including a surge in migration.
As tensions rise across the Middle East, European leaders are bracing for the possibility that the geopolitical shockwaves could once again reach the EU’s borders.
+ There are no comments
Add yours