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Polish, Italian PMs to discuss bilateral ties, security, migration on Wednesday

05.07.2023 00:15
The Polish prime minister will host his Italian counterpart in Warsaw on Wednesday for talks about bilateral cooperation, security and European Union issues, including migration policy, according to officials.
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki (right) and Italys Giorgia Meloni (left).
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki (right) and Italy's Giorgia Meloni (left).PAP/Rafał Guz

Poland’s Mateusz Morawiecki and Italy’s Giorgia Meloni are set to meet at the Palace on the Isle in Warsaw’s Royal Łazienki Park, Polish state broadcaster TVP Info reported.

“The prime ministers of Poland and Italy will discuss bilateral cooperation, as well as issues to do with the economy and security, especially in the context of the upcoming summit of the NATO alliance in Vilnius, Lithuania,” said Polish government spokesman Piotr Müller.

Speaking in an interview with Poland's PAP news agency, Müller added that Morawiecki and Meloni would also talk about “current EU issues,” such as the bloc’s planned new migration policy.

The Cabinet spokesman told the Polish state news agency that "both Poland and Italy are in the process of conducting political consultations regarding challenges to European security.”

Müller said: “An important aspect is ensuring the security of the EU’s external borders, both the land borders and the sea border on the Mediterranean Sea. At the moment, the responsibility for ensuring the security of external borders rests with the member states that directly manage these borders. That’s why it’s so important that EU countries work together and exchange their experiences.”

Müller also said that "Poland and Italy share the view that illegal migration should be tackled in migrants’  countries of origin,” and that the EU “should provide these countries with additional development aid,” as well “bolster its external borders.”   

The Polish government spokesman noted that Meloni previously visited Poland on February 20.

Müller said “the Polish and Italian prime ministers also held consultations by phone regarding the events of June 24, 2023, in Russia, involving the so-called Wagner Group” and the private military company’s failed rebellion against Russia’s military command, the PAP news agency reported.

Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, launching the largest military campaign in Europe since World War II.

Wednesday is day 497 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

(pm/gs)

Source: IAR, PAP, tvp.info, wpolityce.pl