COPENHAGEN, March 19, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The prime ministers of Denmark and Italy have called for tougher border controls, warning that the war in the Middle East could trigger an influx of migrants and refugees into the European Union.

Mette Frederiksen and Giorgia Meloni wrote in a joint letter that Europe "cannot risk a repeat" of 2015-2016, when hundreds of thousands of people arrived -- many fleeing the civil war in Syria.

The two leaders, who have drastically reduced immigration in their countries, called on the European Commission to adopt a 458-million-euro ($527-million) humanitarian aid package, in part to slow population movements toward the bloc.

"The ongoing conflict in the Middle East is increasingly worrying in a number of domains, spreading in a region already hosting large numbers of displaced people," the pair wrote in a letter to EU leaders dated Wednesday but obtained by AFP on Thursday.

"We cannot risk a repeat of the refugee and migratory flows to the EU which we saw unfold in 2015-2016.

"This would not only be a humanitarian catastrophe for the people directly affected but will also risk impacting on the security and cohesion of our Union."

They called for funding to help countries in the Middle East to deal with those affected by the conflict, which started with a bomardment of Iran by the United States and Israel in late February, before they try to come to Europe.

The two leaders added that Europe needed to "be prepared and take the necessary steps if the situation develops".

"We cannot afford to be taken by surprise as in the past. This means further strengthening our borders," they said.

Frederiksen, Meloni and Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten held an informal meeting with several other EU countries and the European Commission to discuss "innovative" ways to limit immigration to Europe in light of the war in the Middle East, Meloni's office said.

In early March, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned that a possible collapse of Iran could have "far-reaching consequences" including on migration.