Russia poses a bigger threat to European Union security than just defence as Moscow can use illegal immigration and other issues to undermine the bloc, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Sunday.
Finland hosted the leaders of Italy, Sweden and Greece, as well as the EU foreign affairs chief, in its northern Lapland region at the weekend to discuss security in the Nordic region and the Mediterranean, as well as migration challenges in southern Europe.
"We have to understand the threat is much wider than we imagine," Meloni, who leads a conservative government, told a press conference when asked about Russia.
The danger to EU security from Russia or from elsewhere would not stop once the Ukraine conflict ended and the EU must be prepared for that, she said.
"It's about our democracy, it's about influencing our public opinion, it's about what happens in Africa, it's about raw materials, it's about the instrumentalisation of migration. We need to know it's a very wide idea of security," Meloni said.
She urged the EU to do more to protect its borders and not let Russia or any "criminal organisation" steer the flows of illegal migrants.
Some EU members including Finland and Estonia have accused Russia of allowing illegal migrants from the Middle East and elsewhere to enter EU states via Russia without proper checks, undermining the EU's security.
Moscow has denied Russia was deliberately pushing illegal migrants into the EU.
While NATO remained "the cornerstone" of EU security, the bloc had to tackle wider challenges, Meloni said.
France, Italy, and Slovakia have urged the EU to simplify its carbon border levy rules this year, calling for reduced red tape and standardized emissions calculations to ease the burden on businesses.
Italy has failed to accelerate its use of EU COVID-19 recovery funds, with government data showing it has spent only about half of the money received so far.
Italy is conducting a study of its space and satellite communications market, with the possibility of issuing a call for tender later this year, signaling the country’s growing interest in expanding its role in the satellite communications sector.
Italy and Spain made it clear on Monday that they are not prepared to support an EU proposal to pledge up to 40 billion euros ($43.67 billion) in military aid for Ukraine this year on a proportional basis, according to officials and diplomats.
Italy will unveil an industrial strategy in June, linking its automotive, defence, and aerospace sectors amid Europe's focus on defence spending and satellite security.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres responds to discussions on a potential temporary administration in Ukraine, reaffirming the presence of a legitimate government and clarifying the UN’s role in mediation efforts.
Suicide bomber targets a political protest rally in Balochistan, Pakistan. No civilian casualties reported; the attacker was killed.
The Norwegian Government has decided to provide a total of NOK 3 billion in humanitarian support to Ukraine and to the refugee response in Ukraine’s neighbouring countries in 2025.
Amid ongoing peace talks, fighting in Ukraine has escalated, leading to a rising number of civilian casualties. In the first three months of this year, casualty figures were 30% higher than during the same period last year, stated UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk.
Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) pilots, monitoring a Chinese navy warship as it navigated Australian waters, were alerted to a live-fire exercise via a civilian radio broadcast, defense officials revealed on Tuesday.
As the world shifts toward clean energy at an ever-accelerating pace, large economies are scrambling to secure reliable supply chains for rare earth minerals. These minerals, once seen as mere industrial components, have become a political tool in the global power struggle
A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar’s Sagaing region, followed by a 6.4-magnitude tremor, killing more than 1,002 people and leaving 2,300 injured. The quake caused building collapses in Myanmar and Thailand, prompting emergency declarations and ongoing rescue efforts.
Russian forces carried out a drone attack on Ukraine’s second-largest city, Kharkiv, late Wednesday, injuring at least twenty one people and causing structural damage, according to Ukrainian officials.
A devastating overnight drone attack on Kyiv, attributed to Russian forces, resulted in the deaths of three people, including a five-year-old child, and left ten others injured.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres responds to discussions on a potential temporary administration in Ukraine, reaffirming the presence of a legitimate government and clarifying the UN’s role in mediation efforts.
Suicide bomber targets a political protest rally in Balochistan, Pakistan. No civilian casualties reported; the attacker was killed.
The Norwegian Government has decided to provide a total of NOK 3 billion in humanitarian support to Ukraine and to the refugee response in Ukraine’s neighbouring countries in 2025.
Amid ongoing peace talks, fighting in Ukraine has escalated, leading to a rising number of civilian casualties. In the first three months of this year, casualty figures were 30% higher than during the same period last year, stated UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres responds to discussions on a potential temporary administration in Ukraine, reaffirming the presence of a legitimate government and clarifying the UN’s role in mediation efforts.
Suicide bomber targets a political protest rally in Balochistan, Pakistan. No civilian casualties reported; the attacker was killed.
The Norwegian Government has decided to provide a total of NOK 3 billion in humanitarian support to Ukraine and to the refugee response in Ukraine’s neighbouring countries in 2025.
Amid ongoing peace talks, fighting in Ukraine has escalated, leading to a rising number of civilian casualties. In the first three months of this year, casualty figures were 30% higher than during the same period last year, stated UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk.
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