EU, the boost on migrants There is a stalemate on the “green” car – Corriere.it

Difficult and strategic issues for the President of the European Council Charles Michel. But the summit of EU leaders was nonetheless quick, less than ten hours, to give the green light to the conclusions on the topics of the first day of the summit between EU leaders: support for Ukraine and the ammunition supply plan, measures to encourage competitiveness by pursuing the green transition and the proper functioning of the internal market, the reform of economic governance, the political role of trade, the reform of the electricity market and immigration.

No apparent conflicts. The confrontation on immigration lasted a little more than half an hour, with about ten speeches. An established point: Migration is a European challenge that requires a European response, reads the conclusions in which the European Council calls for the rapid implementation of all agreed points and will examine the implementation in June. The president of the EU Commission Ursula von der Leyen updated the EU leaders on the progress in implementing the decisions taken at the extraordinary meeting on 9 February. A report judged positively by Italy but also by other countries such as the Netherlands, which believes that the Commission has made a good start in the direction indicated by the EU leaders in February. The conclusions, on the other hand, were branded as a few lines by the secretary of the Pd Elly Schlein, a result considered modest in the face of the conquered centrality of the issue claimed by the Italian government. However, our country has received the support of President von der Leyen on the need to increase the number of entries of workers from third countries and in this regard he cited Italy’s extremely positive experience with humanitarian corridors. The urgency to act was also underlined by the UN secretary general, Antonio Guterres, upon his arrival at the European Council: There is a perfect storm in several developing countries – he said – with a combination of elements that lead to a dramatic situation.

On the sidelines, the stalemate on the EU regulation that bans cars was held petrol and diesel from 2035. Several leaders, especially among the most ambitious Nordic countries on the environmental front, have criticized Germany’s move which blocked the green light from the Council to have reassurances on synthetic fuels. The president of the EU Parliament Roberta Metsola is also tough: We cannot go back on the agreements, because in the final analysis it is a matter of trust between co-legislators and the credibility of the legislative process. The no of Italy and Poland, together with the abstention of Bulgaria, are not enough to form a blocking minority. So Berlin the tip of the balance. Entering the summit, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said there was clear understanding that the Commission would propose rules to allow new cars using synthetic fuels to be registered even after 2035. A senior Commission official said however that in no time has the EU executive promised legislation on the matter before a Council vote. Von der Leyen is confident that a good solution will soon be found.

Volodymyr Zelensky, who connected to the summit, warmly thanked the plan to deliver one million munitions in twelve months, listed five factors of delay that risk prolonging the conflict and called for a summit in a European capital to discuss his peace plan.