Renzi asks Muscat ‘to represent’ Italy on European Council

Stuck in Rome as his government outlined an expansive 2016 budget, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has asked Prime Minister Joseph Muscat to stand in for him during this evening’s European Council talks.

Muscat will therefore “represent” Italy until Renzi’s arrival.

It is understood that Renzi felt comfortable delegating Muscat due to the similar positions on migration.

Nell'attesa di @matteorenzi a rappresentarci all'#euco c'è @JosephMuscat_JM (#Malta)

— Giovanna Pancheri (@giopank) October 15, 2015

The EU leaders are meeting in Brussels against the background of refugee pressure that has been increasing in recent months.

In the invitation letter by President Donald Tusk, he said that the leaders’ priority should be strengthening of the EU's external borders, as well as increasing our support for the countries in the neighbourhood and the refugees there.

As a result, the EU has engaged in an intensive dialogue with Turkish leaders as the biggest transit country. The goal of Tusk’s talks in Ankara was to stem the wave of refugees to Europe.

“An agreement with Turkey makes sense if it effectively reduces the inflow of refugees. Concessions will only be justified when this goal is achieved,” he said.