Italian premier says Schengen area can only be preserved by defending EU borders

'I remain firmly convinced that the Schengen area can be preserved in the best possible way only if the Union's external borders are defended,' Meloi says By Ilayda Cakirtekin ISTANBUL (AA) - Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Monday called for defending the European Union borders in order to preserve the Schengen area, according to state-run ANSA news agency. "I remain firmly convinced that the Schengen area can be preserved in the best possible way only if the Union's external borders are defended, only if all member states continue to do their part in the fight against traffickers and against mass illegal immigration," Meloni said during a joint news briefing with her Belgian counterpart Bart De Wever in Rome. She reaffirmed that there had been an exchange on the management of migration flows "after a summer that, as you have seen, was very eventful, once again raising the question of Europe's ability to respond on this matter and to respond to crises." Meloni also stressed the need for a more effective interpretation and implementation of international conventions. Additionally, She noted that they focused on the consequences of international crises on economic and social systems with De Wever and said the issues of competitiveness and energy costs should be addressed at the next Europesn Council. 'The impact of the situation in Hormuz on the cost of fuel, fertilizers and raw materials is there for all to see, as is the extent to which all this is weighing on us," Meloni underscored. De Wever, for his part, reiterated the need for Europe to become strong "in an increasingly complex world." He also said that a common framework in defense can be built, while calling for better management of migration and asylum. Remarks came after around 72,000 people irregularly crossed from Morocco into Ceuta on July 30-31, according to the Spanish government's official estimate. The unprecedented influx briefly brought a number of migrants almost equivalent to the enclave's population. Government estimates suggest that around 5,000 migrants who arrived during the mass crossings remain in Ceuta, a small Spanish enclave with a population of about 80,000. The crisis triggered sharp criticism of Madrid from other European governments. A group of 22 EU countries signed an open letter saying Spain's relatively open migration policies had acted as a "pull factor." Kaynak: This news has been read 32 times in total