Starmer Praises Meloni's Migration Efforts in Italy Visit

During his recent visit to Italy, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed admiration for the immigration policies implemented by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. At a press conference in Rome, Starmer highlighted Meloni's significant progress in collaborating with countries along migration routes, addressing the root causes of migration, and tackling smuggling rings. These efforts have resulted in a 60% decrease in irregular sea arrivals to Italy since 2022.

Starmer also showed interest in Italy's plans to establish asylum processing centers in Albania, which aim to handle asylum applications outside the EU. Only approved applicants would be allowed entry into Italy. The opening of these centers has been delayed but is expected to commence within weeks.

Meloni's government, in power since October 2022, has renewed a contentious agreement with Libya and inked a new deal with Tunisia to curb irregular migration. These agreements, along with stricter measures, have been part of Italy's broader strategy, albeit criticized by human rights groups for pushing refugees back into dangerous situations.

In the UK, migration, particularly via small boats across the English Channel, was a pivotal issue in the recent parliamentary elections where Starmer's Labour Party triumphed. Shortly after taking office, Starmer scrapped a controversial program from the previous government that aimed to deport migrants to Rwanda. Instead, he pledged to dismantle smuggling operations that profit from perilous crossings.

Despite these efforts, a tragic incident occurred recently when a migrant boat capsized in the English Channel, resulting in eight deaths. Starmer's visit to Italy and his praise for Meloni's policies indicate a keen interest in learning from Italy's approach, although the challenges in the UK differ significantly due to the nature of its migration routes.