European Leaders Push Forward Coordinated Approach on Innovative Migration Policies
On the sidelines of a recent European Council meeting, a new informal dialogue took place among EU member states most directly engaged in shaping innovative responses to migration. The meeting was jointly hosted by Italy, Denmark, and the Netherlands, bringing together leaders and representatives from 15 EU countries alongside the European Commission.
Participating nations included Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Germany, Greece, Poland, the Czech Republic, Latvia, Malta, Hungary, and Sweden, reflecting a broad geographic and political spectrum within the European Union. The gathering underscored a shared recognition that migration challenges require collective, forward-looking solutions rather than fragmented national responses.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen outlined the main areas of progress at the EU level. Particular attention was given to advances in negotiations on a new returns regulation and the development of a common European list of safe countries of origin—two initiatives seen as central to improving the effectiveness and credibility of EU migration policy.
Italy reaffirmed its strong commitment to pursuing innovative migration solutions and welcomed a newly issued joint letter signed by the foreign and interior ministers of 19 EU member states. This document signals growing political momentum behind alternative and more structured approaches to managing irregular migration. Italian representatives also updated partners on ongoing work assessing whether existing international conventions are adequately equipped to address today’s migration realities, especially in relation to irregular flows.
The discussion built on recent diplomatic momentum. On 10 December, 27 member states of the Council of Europe endorsed a joint Italian-Danish political declaration, marking a significant step toward deeper cooperation. Attention is now turning to the next milestone: a ministerial meeting of the Council of Europe, scheduled for 15 May under the Moldovan presidency, where these efforts are expected to advance further.
Concluding the meeting, participants agreed to expand joint initiatives beyond the EU framework. In addition to continued coordination within the European Union and the Council of Europe, leaders emphasized the importance of engaging in wider international forums, including the United Nations. The shared objective is to more effectively promote a European model for the orderly, responsible, and sustainable management of migration flows on the global stage.
