Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called for new and more equitable relations between Europe and the countries of origin and transit of illegal migrants while speaking at a migration summit in Rome on July 23. Representatives from around twenty countries, including those from Africa, the Middle East, the European Union, and international organisations, attended the summit.
The goal of the conference is to make Italy a leader in addressing the issue of illegal migration to Mediterranean countries. The country receives hundreds of people daily who arrive in Europe by sea.
Giorgia Meloni proposed four directions for future cooperation: combating criminal organisations that transport migrants across the Mediterranean Sea, more effective management of migrant flows, support for refugees, and assistance to their countries of origin.
"At the centre of migration flows are people, their lives, hopes, fears, and sufferings, exploited and used by criminal organisations driven solely by profit. Undoubtedly, it is our duty to take care of our countries, but it is also our duty to deal with the fate of these people," said Giorgia Meloni.
She also added that Italy and Europe need immigration, but it cannot signal that those who enter illegally will be rewarded. Since the beginning of the current year, over 83,000 illegal migrants have arrived in Italy. In comparison, there were less than 34,000 in the whole of 2022. In total, around 110,000 people will have arrived illegally in Europe in 2023.
Meanwhile, human rights activists are concerned that the summit in Rome may mark the beginning of an anti-migrant policy that will place the responsibility on Africa to prevent Africans from entering Europe.
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