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On the sidelines of the informal meeting of the members of the European Council in Agia Napa, Cyprus, the President of the Republic of Cyprus and the Heads of Government of Greece, Italy and Malta met to discuss possible initiatives to be implemented in a coordinated and coherent manner, with a view to preventing a migration crisis similar to that experienced in 2015, as recalled in the Conclusions of the European Council of 19 March 2026.
While reaffirming the importance of ongoing efforts to achieve a rapid diplomatic solution to the conflict, the four Leaders also underlined the need to continue working closely with partners in the region to ensure the necessary assistance and support for the affected populations. In their capacity as Member States situated at the external borders of the European Union and most immediately exposed to potential uncontrolled migration flows towards the Union, they also examined a number of possible measures aimed at safeguarding, if necessary and in full respect of international law, the security and effective management of the European Union’s external borders.
Reaffirming the importance of a common European approach in order to maximise the effectiveness of their respective national responses to a possible significant increase in migration flows linked to the conflict in the Middle East, the Leaders of Cyprus, Greece, Italy and Malta tasked their respective Ministers responsible for Interior and Migration Affairs to continue their close coordination, including by examining, in cooperation with the European Commission, the most appropriate ways to integrate national efforts within the framework of the relevant competences and initiatives of the European Union.
