editorial
Piantedosi’s course of action at the hearing in San Macuto
Today, the minister will appear before the Schengen Committee, whilst disputes with Berlin are likely to arise. At this juncture, however, maintaining good relations is more important than ever
Photo: ANSA
Whilst we wait to find out whether Ferragosto will see yet another migrant crisis in Ceuta – something which, at present, one can reasonably doubt – we can only wait and see how the Italian government will fare with its next moves on the chessboard of the ongoing diplomatic war, war of nerves and cross-European propaganda. This far from straightforward task now falls primarily on the shoulders of the Minister of the Interior, Matteo Piantedosi. Whilst tensions with Madrid remain high, yesterday began with a deterioration in weather conditions along the German route. In recent days, Berlin has confirmed its decision to deport Dublin-eligible migrants to Italy, as provided for in the agreements. Indeed, the spokesperson for the German Interior Minister said: “We are somewhat surprised by the commotion over this issue and the differences with Rome”. In fact, he explained, “Berlin and Rome have been cooperating well for some time on migration issues and on the implementation of the Common European Asylum System; in autumn 2025, we concluded bilateral agreements with Italy and Greece, stipulating that the Dublin rules would once again be applied from the entry into force of the Common European Asylum System in June 2026”.
Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has played down the controversy, saying, “I don’t think there’s a problem”, but he stood his ground on the issue of German-flagged NGO ships that have disembarked migrants. Against this backdrop of uncertainty, Piantedosi is due to appear today at San Macuto before the Parliamentary Committee overseeing the implementation of the Schengen Agreement, to explain how the restoration of border controls between Italy and Spain is progressing. His “friend” Mette Frederiksen reiterated her position to the Danish Parliament in Copenhagen, but without pressing the issue. It will be up to the Italian government – drawing on the Quirinale’s recent remarks regarding respect for migrants – to find a course of action which, whilst taking into account the obvious electoral considerations, does not worsen relations with Europe without, moreover, yielding any useful results.