Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has formally asked European Union leaders for stricter border controls and enhanced health coordination in response to the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. In a letter sent to EU leaders on Friday, Meloni called for border management to be placed on the agenda for the EU council meeting scheduled for June 18–19, 2026, and requested a videoconference of EU health ministers “as early as next week”. The aim, according to a government statement, is to establish “enhanced coordination of border surveillance through common rules for managing direct and indirect arrivals from the affected areas,” while fully respecting national prerogatives in health protection.
The request comes as the World Health Organization reports that since an Ebola outbreak was declared in DRC on May 15, 2026, there have been 10 confirmed and 223 suspected Ebola deaths out of more than 1,000 confirmed and suspected cases as of May 24, with neighboring Uganda recording one confirmed death and six additional cases. The WHO has warned that the true spread of the outbreak is likely much wider. Italy has already activated “targeted health surveillance and monitoring protocols” for travelers returning from the two African countries and is sending a team of infectious-disease experts from Rome’s Spallanzani Hospital to Kinshasa this weekend to provide technical assistance and deliver medicine and supplies.
The push for EU-wide measures reflects concern that uncoordinated national responses could leave gaps at external borders. Meloni’s government emphasized that common rules should cover both direct flights and indirect routes from affected regions, aiming to align disembarkation, screening, and follow-up procedures across member states. The Commission has previously facilitated joint European responses to cross-border health threats through the Health Security Committee and the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, bringing together national authorities to share information and adjust operational plans.
Italy’s move echoes past debates over Schengen border management during public health crises, where countries have weighed travel restrictions against the need to maintain internal movement and protect vulnerable populations. While European leaders in previous outbreaks agreed to keep borders open, describing closures as disproportionate when cases were limited, Meloni’s letter signals a preference for stronger surveillance rather than outright bans. The EU response will be discussed further at the upcoming council meeting, with Rome pressing for rapid ministerial coordination to ensure that screening, contact tracing, and risk communication are consistent across entry points.
