V. Sinkevičius asserted that the reaction from the General (EU – ELTA) Council, citing the Italian response, amounts to mere populism. According to the chairman of the Democratic Party, while he acknowledges that Giorgia Meloni faces internal pressure within her party due to a more nationalist competitor, he redirected the discussion toward quantifiable migration data.
Sinkevičius presented statistics comparing migration flows, noting that over the last five years, Italy reportedly recorded nearly half a million illegal migrants. In contrast, he cited figures for Spain, suggesting the number was significantly lower, at approximately 250,000 or 70,000. The Democratic Party chairman maintained that any effective resolution to the migration crisis must center on reinforcing the external borders of the European Union.
He expressed skepticism regarding proposed policy measures, stating that attempts to remove countries from the Schengen Area are not only theoretically problematic but practically unfeasible. The core of his argument suggests that while political rhetoric may focus on nationalistic sentiments, the structural solution lies in robust EU border management. Sinkevičius implies that focusing on internal political divisions or extreme measures is less productive than implementing comprehensive border security protocols across the bloc.
His comments frame the debate as a choice between politically charged, yet ineffective, nationalistic reactions and pragmatic, unified EU border reinforcement.
Topics: #party #spain #populism
