Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen have co-signed a letter on migration addressed to EU leaders, endorsed by 22 governments. The document, released in early August 2026, calls for an extraordinary meeting of interior ministers, stronger EU capacity to protect external borders, increased support for Frontex, and closer cooperation with Morocco. The signatories also propose the creation of return hubs in third countries and speak of "massive uncontrolled crossings" and possible "instrumentalisation of migration."

The initiative came in the wake of the Ceuta migration crisis. Among the countries that did not sign the appeal are Spain under Pedro Sánchez, France under Emmanuel Macron, Portugal, Luxembourg, and Ireland. The European People's Party has also pressed for similar measures, according to ANSA.

The Meloni-Frederiksen partnership on migration policy has a long history. The first public milestone came in April 2023, when the Danish prime minister visited Rome. In May 2024 the two countries co-signed the "letter of 15," asking the European Commission to explore innovative solutions for managing irregular migration, including return hubs and asylum procedures in third countries. In October 2024, Italy, Denmark, and the Netherlands promoted an informal meeting in Brussels attended by nine other member states. In May 2025 the two leaders brought a letter from nine countries to the Council of Europe on the interpretation of the European Convention on Human Rights in migration matters.

The August 2026 letter signals an evolution in language and framing. Beyond border security and flow management, the document references respect for "European values" and warns those arriving in Europe not to "impose lifestyles that are not shared." According to an analysis by the newspaper Open, this shift gives migration a dimension tied to European cultural identity, moving closer to a principle of assimilation rather than integration.

Political reactions have been divided. Angelo Bonelli, an MP from Alleanza Verdi Sinistra, accused Meloni of using immigration for electoral convenience, arguing that the real emergency is the climate crisis, and denounced a diplomatic crisis with Spain triggered by the government. A commentary published in Il Fatto Quotidiano called the Meloni-Frederiksen approach "short-sighted," arguing that Europe has zero demographic growth and that regulated migration could help counter population aging and support economic growth. Several commentaries in Editoriale Domani criticized the evolution of immigration rhetoric, judging the prevalence of a security-focused approach as a step backward from contemporary conceptions.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen leads a social democratic government, while Meloni leads a center-right coalition. Despite their different political affiliations, the two leaders have found growing convergence on border control, returns, and cooperation with third countries. On other dossiers, such as Donald Trump's claims over Greenland in January 2026, Meloni took a more cautious stance than Frederiksen, while still co-signing a joint declaration defending Danish sovereignty over Greenland.