ROME — Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni held a meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on Wednesday in Rome, where they addressed several pertinent topics including the situation in the Middle East, their shared desire for a fair and enduring peace in Ukraine, and ongoing support for the reconstruction of the eastern nation.

Meloni took the opportunity to commend Orbán on his six-month rotating presidency of the EU Council and acknowledged the initial phase of accession discussions with Albania, as well as advancements made with Bulgaria and Romania regarding the expansion of the Schengen zone, according to an official statement from the Italian government.

The two right-wing leaders covered aspects of the ongoing Middle East conflict, reiterated their backing of a peaceful resolution in Ukraine, and affirmed their commitment to assisting in Ukraine’s reconstruction in anticipation of a recovery conference scheduled for Rome in July 2025.

In their 1.5-hour dialogue at the Italian government’s headquarters, they also highlighted the significance of addressing irregular migration. They called for enhanced collaboration with countries of origin and transit to effectively confront the underlying issues and combat human trafficking and smuggling operations.

Furthermore, they recognized the pressing need for a revised legal framework aimed at expediting and increasing the efficiency of returns from the EU, while also focusing on bolstering the notion of safe countries of origin.

Both leaders emphasized the necessity of exploring innovative strategies to avert and counter irregular migration in line with EU and international law. This includes building upon the agreements made between Italy and Albania, which aim to hasten processing for migrants’ asylum claims while accommodating them in newly established reception centers in Albania, all under the jurisdiction of Rome.

However, Meloni has faced difficulties in executing this agreement, as Italian officials have so far halted the transfer of migrants rescued from the Mediterranean to the Albanian processing facilities, citing that their countries of origin do not meet the safety requirements for repatriation.