Just before 01:30 [σ.σ. ώρα Βρυξελλών• 02:30 ώρα Ελλάδας] the “difficult” first day of the Summit is over. The leaders were negotiating on immigration from 17:30, with Hungary and Poland to block the conclusions on the specific subject until the completion of the first day of the European Council.

The leaders will meet again at 10.30, Greek time, with immigration once again on the table, while China and the economy will also be discussed.

Unmoved are the governments of Hungary and Poland, which continue to block conclusions on immigration, with leaders continuing negotiations at the Brussels Summit.

Warsaw and Budapest have opposed political agreement on two pillars of the Migration and Asylum Pact, which was reached at the council of interior ministers in early June. Under the agreement, all member states will have to receive asylum seekers arriving at the external borders of the European Union. Countries that do not want to accept refugees and immigrants will have to pay monetary compensations.

Earlier, the conclusions of the Synod on Ukraine were adopted.

The draft conclusions concern immigration

In the draft conclusions there are two paragraphs concerning immigration. It is reported that the European Council expresses its deep sorrow at the terrible loss of life as a result of the recent tragedy off Pylos. The European Union remains committed to dismantling the business model of smugglers, including instrumentalisation, and tackling the root causes of irregular migration to better manage migration flows and prevent people from embarking on such dangerous journeys, it added.
Furthermore, it is pointed out that immigration is a European challenge that requires a European response.

The European Council reviewed the migration situation at the EU’s external borders and within the EU in a comprehensive way and noted the work undertaken so far in a European response.

The Council presidency and the Commission informed the European Council of steady progress in the implementation of its conclusions of 9 February 2023, with a focus on the external aspects of migration and their financing mechanisms.

Following the Commission’s recent letter, and based on progress so far, the European Council calls for intensified work in all areas of action, along all migration routes, in accordance with international law.

The presidency calls on the Council and the Commission to continue to closely monitor and ensure the implementation of its conclusions and to submit relevant reports. It invites the Commission to continue working on the elements contained in its letter. The European Council will continue to consider these works.

Mitsotakis position at the Synod: “To deal with the problem at its root”

In his position on Immigration at the summit as reported by government sources, Kyriakos Mitsotakis underlined that they are needed at the European level more innovative policies anti-traffickers to prevent departures that put human lives at risk.

According to government sources, Mr. Mitsotakis emphasized that departures that put human lives at risk must be prevented.

He also referred to the reduction in migration flows achieved by Greece, a result of the improvement of cooperation with Turkey recently.