Italy blocks joint text on trade, defense at EU summit

Ben Stansall | AFP | Getty Images

Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte arrives to take part in an European Union leaders’ summit focused on migration, Brexit and eurozone reforms on June 28, 2018 at the Europa building in Brussels.

Italy’s Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte blocked the adoption of European Union statements on trade and defense at an EU summit on Thursday, to put pressure on his peers to agree to Italy’s stance on migration, European diplomats said.

Conte blocked the joint statements which contained criticism of U.S. trade tariffs and support for retaliatory measures, saying that he could approve them only when the 28 leaders of the bloc had found a common ground on all topics under discussion at the summit, notably on migration.

Conte’s unusual move drew criticism from some governments. “Some leaders were surprised by this”, an EU diplomat said.