International News

ROME, (APP/AFP): EU president Donald Tusk travels to Rome
Thursday with fellow EU institution leaders and German Chancellor Angela Merkel for two days of talks likely to focus on next steps in Europe’s migrant crisis.
Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, who fears Italy becoming the new migrant
frontline after the closure of the Balkan route, will host the first day of
talks, followed by Pope Francis on Friday.
As the EU braces for more turbulence notably with next month’s
“Brexit” referendum in Britain as well as renewed Greek debt talks, Italy is keen to keep the focus on forging a joint plan over migrants.
Renzi will start by meeting Merkel from 2 pm (1200 GMT), followed by
talks with European Commission leader Jean-Claude Juncker, EU Council president Tusk and European Parliament chief Martin Schulz.
From 6:30 pm (1630 GMT) they will hold a conference on the future of
the EU, which will take place in the same room in the Capitole where the 1957 Rome Treaty was signed, founding the body that developed into today’s 28-nation EU.
With over 28,500 migrants arrived since January 1, Italy has once
again become the principal entry via the Mediterranean, after the controversial EU-Turkey deal and the closure of the Balkan route north.