BRUSSELS, June 29, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – EU leaders struck a deal on migration
after all-night talks, the bloc’s president Donald Tusk said Friday, after
Italy had blocked an agreement until it got more help on the issue.
“EU28 leaders have agreed on #euco (European Council) conclusions incl.
migration,” Tusk said on Twitter.
Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel added: “Deal agreed on migration.”
Italy’s new hardline Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, who heads Italy’s
month-old populist and anti-immigration government, took the rare step of
blocking the joint conclusions from the meeting in Brussels, as tensions
boiled over.
Italy has been pushing for years to have EU member countries do more to
share responsibility for asylum seekers landing on Italian shores.
Conte said upon arriving for the summit that began at 3 pm (1300 GMT
Thursday) that he had seen many signs of support during his previous
individual meetings with EU leaders but wanted them translated into action.
He warned he might veto the conclusions on migration before later hardening
his position to block all the conclusions, including on security and defence,
jobs, growth and economic competitiveness.
EU sources had described the talks as “virulent”.