Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni affirmed that Europe realizes the significance of North African countries’ stability.
Meloni also highlighted the importance of re-launching Africa’s role in international forums as a group.
The Prime Minister stated that the council would express the EU’s support for reinforcing the African Union’s presence in international forums, especially the G20.
She also vowed to reiterate the AU’s inclusion in that forum as a necessary measure to “add an authoritative voice in the discussion on global challenges.”
Her remarks came before the Italian House of Representatives ahead of the European Council, which will kick off on Thursday.
In the same vein, Meloni underlined that the immigration issue would be front and centre at the Council meeting, as it also intersects the security and defence dossiers.
“If the defence of the EU’s external borders is not tackled upstream, it is impossible to achieve a fair and effective migration and asylum policy. There is nothing humane about mass irregular immigration,” she noted, stressing the need for EU funds to “fight [it], not manage it.”
