The UK prime minister, Keir Starmer, met with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome to discuss cooperation in tackling illegal migration. Starmer intends to allocate €4.75 million to Meloni’s “Rome Process”, which aims to address the root causes of illegal migration and target smugglers. Despite their political differences, Starmer commended Italy for reducing the number of migrants reaching its shores by boat through collaborative efforts with countries along migration routes. The leaders discussed new solutions, such as the Italy-Albania agreement, to further enhance their strategies.
Italy has seen a significant decrease in the number of migrants arriving by boat in the first half of this year, contrasting with the situation in the UK, where over 22,000 migrants have crossed from France. The tragic deaths of migrants attempting the dangerous journey highlight the urgency of addressing irregular migration. Meloni’s government has implemented various measures to deter refugees from making the perilous Mediterranean crossing, including deals with African countries to block departures, limits on rescue ships, crackdowns on traffickers, and incentives for people not to embark on the journey.
Italy’s partnership with Albania, where adult male migrants rescued at sea are taken for asylum processing, has come under criticism, with Amnesty International calling the processing centers a stain on the Italian government. Despite the controversial aspects of their migration policies, Italy’s efforts have significantly decreased irregular arrivals through the Mediterranean route. However, legal challenges have arisen, as Italian prosecutors seek a six-year prison sentence for Matteo Salvini, Meloni’s deputy PM and leader of the far-right Lega party, for refusing to allow a humanitarian NGO ship carrying migrants to dock in 2019.
Starmer and Meloni’s meeting emphasized the importance of collaborating to address the root causes of migration, disrupt smugglers’ operations, and enhance intelligence sharing to combat irregular migration effectively. The leaders aim to learn from each other’s strategies and explore new solutions to further reduce the number of migrants attempting dangerous sea crossings. By adapting successful measures, such as Italy’s deals with African countries and Albania, the UK hopes to replicate Italy’s success in reducing irregular migration while ensuring the safety and well-being of refugees.
The ongoing efforts to tackle irregular migration highlight the complex challenges faced by countries like Italy and the UK. As the number of migrants attempting dangerous sea crossings remains high, governments must find innovative ways to address the root causes of migration, dismantling smuggling networks, and ensuring the safety of refugees. Despite criticism of certain aspects of their policies, Italy’s significant reduction in sea arrivals demonstrates the effectiveness of collaborative efforts and targeted interventions. Moving forward, closer cooperation between countries, sharing best practices, and exploring new solutions will be essential to address the multifaceted issues surrounding irregular migration effectively. Through continued dialogue and joint initiatives, policymakers can work towards sustainable solutions that prioritize the safety and well-being of all individuals involved in the migration process.
