The UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, recently met with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome to discuss how the two countries can collaborate on tackling illegal migration. Following their meeting, Starmer pledged to provide around €4.75 million to Meloni’s “Rome Process” initiative, which aims to address the root causes of illegal migration and crack down on migrant smugglers. Starmer commended Italy for its success in reducing irregular migration by sea, thanks to partnerships with countries along migration routes. Despite their political differences, Starmer expressed interest in learning from Italy’s approach to managing migration effectively.
Meloni’s government has been implementing measures to deter migration, including cracking down on traffickers, limiting the work of humanitarian rescue ships, and blocking departures with deals signed with African countries like Tunisia. The number of migrants arriving in Italy by boat has decreased by 60% in the first half of this year compared to 2023. Italy has also signed a controversial deal with Albania where some migrants rescued at sea are taken to Albania while their asylum claims are processed. However, Meloni’s deputy PM, Matteo Salvini, is currently facing a six-year prison sentence for refusing to allow a humanitarian NGO ship carrying migrants to dock in 2019.
The UK has been facing challenges with illegal migration, with more than 22,000 migrants crossing from France into the UK so far this year. This has led to concerns about the safety of migrants making the dangerous crossing, as evidenced by recent tragedies such as a boat carrying 60 people running aground on rocks, resulting in eight deaths. Starmer’s meeting with Meloni highlighted the UK’s interest in exploring new solutions such as the Italy-Albania agreement, despite criticism from organizations like Amnesty International over processing centers for asylum seekers in Albania.
The Rome Process, signed as part of European efforts to outsource migrant controls to third countries, focuses on addressing conflict, economic hardship, and climate change as drivers of illegal migration. Starmer and Meloni emphasized the importance of sharing intelligence, tactics, and cracking down on smugglers to further reduce irregular arrivals. Italy’s success in reducing sea arrivals by 60% since 2022 has drawn the attention of the UK government, leading to discussions on potential collaboration and learning from Italy’s approach to tackling migration effectively. Despite the political differences between Starmer and Meloni, their meeting signals a commitment to deepening cooperation for the benefit of both countries.
While Italy has faced criticism for its handling of migration, particularly regarding the crackdown on migrants and the deal with Albania, the government’s efforts have shown results in reducing sea arrivals. The ongoing legal challenges faced by Matteo Salvini highlight the complexities and controversies surrounding migration policies in Italy. As both Italy and the UK grapple with the challenges of managing illegal migration, the collaboration between the two countries could lead to innovative solutions and enhanced efforts to address the root causes of migration. The shared commitment to tackling this issue underscores the importance of international cooperation in addressing one of the most pressing challenges of our time.
