Overview

• Interior ministers Matteo Piantedosi, Bruno Retailleau and Alexander Dobrindt met at the Viminale in Rome to discuss irregular migration and safe-country rules.
• The trio pledged to make every effort to counter irregular flows and human traffickers through closer cooperation.
• They welcomed the European Commission’s new proposal on returns and signaled support for initiatives to reinforce the legal framework for repatriations.
• Agenda items included tougher enforcement on illegal entry, enhanced returns policy, action against smuggling networks, and regulation on safe-country designations.
• The trilateral was presented as preparatory groundwork for upcoming EU talks, against the backdrop of recent EU court constraints on accelerated transfers.