# Three EU Leaders Push Harder Migration Stance, Fail to Embed Language Linking Migration to Crime in Summit Conclusions

> Italy, Denmark, and Poland advocated for explicit language connecting irregular migration to crime rates in draft European Union summit conclusions, but the specific wording was removed after opposition.

By PrimaryBrief newsroom · Published 2026-10-17T02:04:18.183655Z
Canonical: https://primarybrief.com/article/three-eu-leaders-push-harder-migration-stance-fail-to-embed-language-linking-migration-to-crime-in-summit-conclusions-f5cd203a

Prime Ministers Giorgia Meloni of Italy, Mette Frederiksen of Denmark, and Donald Tusk of Poland advocated for explicit language linking irregular migration to increased crime and challenges to social cohesion in the draft conclusions of the European Union summit held October 15-16, 2026, in Brussels, but the specific wording was ultimately removed or made vague [1][7][10]. This outcome signals internal divisions within the EU regarding migration policy and highlights the ongoing struggle to define a unified approach to border control and integration across the bloc [10][13][17]. The debate at the summit also showed the friction caused by differing national migration policies, particularly Spain's plan to regularize approximately one million irregular migrants [10][17].

## What the records show

Draft summit conclusions, reviewed by multiple news outlets and confirmed by EU diplomats, contained language backed by Italy, Denmark, and Poland stating that irregular migration is "negatively linked to crime rates" and poses "a challenge to social cohesion" [1][7][8][9]. These three nations consistently pushed for a tougher EU stance, emphasizing stricter border controls, faster deportations, and a unified strategy to curb illegal arrivals [1][7]. Their proposals also included the establishment of "return hubs" outside the EU, a concept that has been discussed and pursued by Italy and Denmark since at least August 2026 [2][3][4][5][6]. Prime Minister Meloni has proposed that the first such centers could open as early as 2027, with Italy aiming to conclude agreements with third countries by the end of 2026 [6].

## The timeline

The push for a harder line on migration has been a consistent effort by these leaders, particularly by Giorgia Meloni and Mette Frederiksen. Since Meloni became Italy's prime minister in 2022, she and Frederiksen have held multiple informal meetings to build a coalition advocating for stricter EU migration policies [4]. In March 2025, the EU adopted proposals that opened the way for externalization of migration control procedures and controversial return hubs for unsuccessful asylum seekers [3][4]. By August 2026, both Meloni and Frederiksen were renewing calls for these hubs, linking irregular migration to crime and threats to "European values" [2]. The EU's New Pact on Migration and Asylum took effect on June 12, 2026, which aims to share the cost and efforts of hosting migrants more evenly among member states [16]. The culmination of these efforts by Denmark, Italy, and Poland occurred at the European Union summit in Brussels on October 15-16, 2026, where migration was a central issue [7][12][13].

## What changed and for whom

The explicit language linking irregular migration to crime rates and social cohesion, as proposed by the three nations, did not appear in the final summit conclusions [10]. This omission was largely due to opposition from other member states, particularly Spain [10][17]. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez defended his country's policy, which involved the regularization of about one million irregular migrants, a move that had sparked disputes with Prime Ministers Meloni and Frederiksen [10][17]. French President Emmanuel Macron described the migration debates as "a major source of division" and excessively politicized [10]. While the specific wording was removed, the intense debate highlighted the significant divisions within the EU on how to manage migration [10][13].

## What the leaders have said publicly

Prime Minister Meloni has consistently stated that Italy will continue to work for "a Europe that defends its borders, fights illegal immigration and manages migration with pragmatism and determination" [5]. In June 2026, she emphasized the need for Europe to accelerate practical action on migration, citing progress in areas like the safe countries list and the new Return Regulation [5]. Prime Minister Frederiksen has also been a vocal proponent of migrant return hubs outside the EU, connecting irregular migration to crime and social cohesion [2][4]. All three leaders, Meloni, Frederiksen, and Tusk, united in their position at the October 2026 EU summit, pressing for a significantly tougher stance on irregular migration within the bloc [7][8][13].

## What we could not confirm

We could not confirm the exact arguments or specific member states that actively opposed the inclusion of the explicit language beyond Spain's position and President Macron's general comment [10][17]. We also could not confirm the precise final wording regarding irregular migration that was adopted in the summit conclusions, only that the explicit links to crime and social cohesion were removed or made vague [10].

## Evidence cited
1. Denmark, Italy, Poland urge EU leaders to harden stance on irregular migration (www.politico.eu) — https://www.politico.eu/article/denmark-italy-poland-push-eu-tougher-irregular-migration-crackdown/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS_Syndication
2. (August 13 2026) Italian and Danish leaders Giorgia Meloni and Mette Frederiksen are renewing calls for migrant return hubs outside the EU while linking irregular migration to crime, violence, and threats to "European values," despite empirical evidence demonstrating otherwise.
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(August 13 2026) Italian and Danish leaders Giorgia Meloni and Mette Frederiksen are renewing calls for migrant return hubs outside the EU while linking irregular… (reddit.com) — https://reddit.com/
3. (March 14 2025) The proposed regulation would allow EU countries to strike deals with other nations to set up such centres. The move opens the way to forms of externalisation of migration control procedures and, in this sense, follows the direction of the protocol signed between Italy and Albania.
...
(March 14 2025) ... opens door for controversial return hubs. by enr with AFP, ANSA, BTA, CTK, dpa, EFE, HINA, Ritzau, STA, TASR | 14.Mar 2025 | Key Stories. The EU is ramping up its migration crac (europeannewsroom.com) — https://europeannewsroom.com/
4. (August 14 2026) Since Meloni became Italy's first female prime minister in 2022, the two have held multiple informal meetings (Opens in new window) to build a coalition of European governments in favour of the EU adopting a harder line on migration. Their runs on the board include helping to change the EU's reluctance to deport migrant criminals (Opens in new window) as well as EU rule changes to allow controversial third country return hubs for unsuccessful asylum seekers (Opens in new window) (lowyinstitute.org) — https://lowyinstitute.org/
5. (June 20 2026) Italy, she says, will continue working for a Europe that defends its borders, fights illegal immigration and manages migration with pragmatism and determination. #GiorgiaMeloni #MetteFrederiksen #RobJetten #Migration #ReturnHubs  ...
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(June 20 2026) Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni says Europe must accelerate practical action on migration after a new informal meeting at the margins of the European Council with Denmark's Mette Frederiksen and the Netherlands' Rob Jetten. Me (facebook.com) — https://facebook.com/
6. (August 03 2026) MOSCOW, Aug 3 (Bernama-Sputnik/RIA Novosti) -- Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has proposed discussions on the establishment of migrant return centres in non-EU countries, with the first of these potentially opening as early as 2027, according to the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera on Monday, reported Sputnik/RIA Novosti. The initiative will be one of the main topics at Tuesday's informal online meeting of EU home affairs ministers. Italy will be represented by Inter (bernama.com) — https://bernama.com/
7. (October 16 2026) Zelensky warns 20 million Ukrainians could flee if Russia wins, as Denmark, Italy and Poland push EU leaders to harden their migration stance. ... The draft, backed by Italy's Giorgia Meloni, Denmark's Mette Frederiksen, and Poland's Donald Tusk, says migration is a worry for many Europeans, a challenge to social cohesion, and is linked to higher crime rates. It also stresses the need for full control over irregular arrivals and calls on member states to avoid policies that mig (tovima.com) — https://tovima.com/
8. (October 16 2026) A Tougher Line on Irregular Migration

 At the same time, the leaders of Denmark, Italy, and Poland are pressing the EU to take a much harder stance on irregular migration, according to three EU diplomats and draft summit conclusions seen by Politico. The draft, backed by Italy's Giorgia Meloni, Denmark's Mette Frederiksen, and Poland's Donald Tusk, says migration is a worry for many Europeans, a challenge to social cohesion, and is linked to higher crime rates. It also stresse (ot.gr) — https://ot.gr/
9. (October 16 2026) Draft conclusions backed by Rome, Warsaw and Copenhagen say irregular migration is "negatively linked to crime rates."
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(October 16 2026) The governments of Denmark, Italy and Poland are pressing this Friday for the final declaration of the European summit in Brussels to call for speeding up work to reduce the factors contributing to the so-called effect on immigration and for cooperation between European countries before adopting policies that may affect the rest.
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(Octo (ground.news) — https://ground.news/
10. (October 16 2026) On migration, Denmark, Italy and Poland proposed changes to the conclusions that would explicitly link irregular migration to crime rates and describe it as a threat to the unity of European societies. The proposal received support from around 10 countries, including Hungary, and was indirectly aimed at Spain. There, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's decision to legalise the status of around one million irregular migrants sparked disputes with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (bgnes.com) — https://bgnes.com/
11. (October 16 2026) Proposals for the summit conclusions

 According to an EU diplomat, the three countries want the document to state that irregular migration creates challenges that raise concerns among Europeans. They also advocate limiting incentives for third-country nationals to arrive in Europe by irregular routes. The draft conclusions are also proposed to include a provision under which the European Commission would have to analyze options for strengthening cooperation among member states (ua.news) — https://ua.news/
12. (October 08 2026) European Council President António Costa invited leaders to the meeting of 15 and 16 October 2026 in Brussels, during which they will discuss competitiveness, Ukraine, the next Multiannual Financial Framework, Middle East, defence and security, migration, and enlargement and reforms.
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(October 08 2026) We stand united and determined in the face of this escalation and will continue to advance our defence readiness agenda. Building on our previous work, we will take stock of i (europa.eu) — https://europa.eu/
13. (October 16 2026) Italy and Spain have agreed to end the extra controls they imposed on each other. Nevertheless, migration was the subject of a long and heated debate at the EU summit in Brussels. The two-day meeting did not wrap up until 6:30 p.m. on Friday. Denmark, Italy and Poland in particular had spent a long time pushing for tougher migration measures in a joint statement issued at the meeting. The irritation was primarily directed at Spain's decision earlier this year to allow people wh (swedenherald.com) — https://swedenherald.com/
14. (October 16 2026) 
 By Newsroom 
 
  * European Union leaders gathered in Brussels on Friday for the second day of their regular summit, with support for Ukraine, defense, maritime security, developments in the Middle East and migration among the main issues on the agenda.  
  * The first session of the day is focused on the latest situation in Ukraine and continued support for Kyiv, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expected to take part.  
  * As Russian attacks intensify, leaders a (turkiyetoday.com) — https://turkiyetoday.com/
15. (May 22 2025) Lettre Meloni Frederiksen Tusk politique ... Mette Frederiksen Giorgia Meloni. Prime Minister ... Donald Tusk Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland  ... (scribd.com) — https://scribd.com/
16. The New Pact on Migration and Asylum - Wikipedia (wikipedia.org) — https://wikipedia.org/
17. (October 16 2026) Spain's prime minister defended the country's record on tackling irregular migration amid criticism of its mass regularisation plan, while Ursula von der Leyen called for full implementation of the EU migration and asylum pact. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Friday rejected criticism from several European leaders over Spain's migration policy and defended his government's approach to tackling irregular immigration and managing migration flows. ADVERTISEMENT. ADVERTISEM (euronews.com) — https://euronews.com/
18. (October 16 2026) Los líderes de gobierno de República Checa, Austria y Dinamarca han criticado, en la cumbre de la Unión Europea, la regularización extraordinaria de inmigrantes en España. El presidente, Pedro Sánchez, ha defendido los resultados de la política española en la lucha contra la inmigración irregular. La presidenta de la Comisión Europea, Ursula Von der Leyen, ha pedido aplicar plenamente el pacto europeo de migración y asilo y reforzar la cooperación entre los países de la UE. #ue (youtube.com) — https://youtube.com/
19. (October 16 2026) ... Terres de Lleida · Pirineus. Language: cat, cast, eng. cat · cast; eng. Sections. Subscribe Log in · International. Exclusive subscribers. Common front against Sánchez in the EU for the regularization of immigrants. Spain and Italy reach an agreement to lift border controls. 4 min. Give away this article. Create an account or log in. To save articles, you need to have an account or log in. Create an account. Log in. The Spanish president, Pedro Sánchez, at the leaders' summ (ara.cat) — https://ara.cat/
20. (May 01 2026) On April 16, 2026, a new regulation entered into force to provide migrants who resided in Spain before December 31, 2025 with a legal residence and work authorization. The government estimates this will benefit approximately 500,000 people, though some projections including family reunification suggest the number could be higher. The Extraordinary Migrant Regularization Process of 2026 is a landmark administrative project aimed at resolving the irregular status of hundreds of thous (humanrightsresearch.org) — https://humanrightsresearch.org/
21. (June 30 2026) Speaking in Madrid on Tuesday, Spain's prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, said the huge take-up of the programme revealed how sorely it was needed. “The fact that more than 1 million people submitted applications shows just how necessary this recognition of rights and responsibilities was,” he said. Sánchez said Spain needed immigration to grow economically, to tackle its demographic crisis and to finance its welfare state. “Without immigration, Spain's GDP would be 19% lower in 2050, (theguardian.com) — https://theguardian.com/