(Finance) – The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, would be in favor of an increase in the number of regular entries of workers from third countries. This is what you transpire from your speech at the European Council. Von der Leyen would also have mentioned Italy, defining her experience with the humanitarian corridors as positive.
The Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, arriving at the European Council had declared that she expected “steps forward” on the immigration issue. “I can say that I am satisfied with the draft conclusions, which he asks the Commission to precede expeditiously”, she added. A senior European official told Ansa that there is a “commitment to maintaining momentum” on the issue at the European level. The same official said that during today’s Council – probably during dinner – leaders who wish to do so will take the floor on migration and “it is expected” that Giorgia Meloni will be among them, as will the Dutchman Mark Rutte .
In the meantime, however, unanimity has not been found for an increase in the budget European Peace Facility, the EU’s instrument for providing military aid, even though more than 20 member states agree on the top-up of the EU peace instrument. According to RaiNews24 reports, there would be no member states opposed to the budget increase, but some countries, including France and Greece, have signaled the need to file the details. The text of the conclusions adopted, note from Brussels, has been strengthened compared to the previous versions. “The EU and the Member States – reads the text – are stepping up their efforts to help meet Ukraine’s pressing military and defense needs”.
The nuclear dossier is still open with Paris which intends to include it among the strategic energies for the green transition. According to European sources, French President Emmanuel Macron will raise the issue at the summit of EU leaders to “clear up some misunderstandings” and ask that the atom “not be discriminated against” and therefore “an improvement” be made to the text of the EU Net-Zero industrial plan, which in the Brussels proposal does not include nuclear energy in the list of sources to which to dedicate preferential lanes for investments.