Giorgia Meloni is leading EU calls to normalise relations with the Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad to facilitate migrant deportations to the country.

The Italian prime minister will hold private talks with several other leaders at the European Council summit on Thursday, which is set to be dominated by the topic of migration.

“It is necessary to review the European Union strategy for Syria and to work with all actors, to create the conditions for Syrian refugees to return to their homeland in a voluntary, safe and sustainable way,” Ms Meloni told the Italian Senate on Tuesday.