Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Melonireceived his British counterpart in Rome on Monday, Keir Starmerlooking for more collaboration in immigration matterjust weeks before the controversial centres in Albania come into operation.
“We agree that Don’t be afraid to explore new solutions“We have discussed the ‘Italy-Albania Protocol’, which the UK Government is paying close attention to, and we have provided all the elements to understand this innovative mechanism,” Meloni explained at a joint press conference.
Labour’s Starmer nodded alongside him: “We have brought back British pragmatism. When we face a challenge with our allies, we talk and see if their measures work,” he said.
The Meloni Government has agreed to the Construction of two centres on Albanian territory to identify migrants rescued in the central Mediterranean with the aim of “decongesting” the network of reception institutions in southern Italy.
Although the centres were scheduled to open on 1 August, the Prime Minister said today that “a few weeks are still needed” while certain aspects are “perfected” and insisted that immigrants will receive “the same treatment as if they had arrived in Lampedusa”.
“The jurisdiction will be Italian and European,” he promised.
The Italian Executive reported in a statement that with this bilateral meeting both leaders “aim to strengthen the Cooperation in the fight against human trafficking and smugglingas well as attention to the judicial sphere” and “association with countries of origin and transit” of migration.
Starmer has traveled to Rome in search of strategies for combat immigration irregular, a “challenge” for which congratulated Meloni.
“Italy has achieved remarkable progress working with countries along the migration route, addressing the root causes of migration and reducing irregular arrivals“Since 2022, sea transport has been reduced by 60%,” the British Prime Minister stressed.
That is why he had the new head of Border Security, Martin Hewitt, on his first official trip to Italy, who visited the Coordination Centre of the Italian authorities.
“The reason why my friend has come with me Chief of Border Security “It is to visit the Coordination Centre and see how we can collaborate even more effectively by sharing analysis, data, intelligence and also our strategies,” Starmer said.
He also stressed that his government, formed last July, has already repatriated more than 3,000 migrants to their countries by plane.
In another order of things, Meloni and his British counterpart also discussed the main international crises, especially the war in Ukraine and in the Middle East.
The position of both on Israel and Palestinesummed up by Starmer, is that “an immediate ceasefire is achieved in Gaza, all hostages are released, humanitarian aid is delivered and tensions in the West Bank are calmed.”
On Ukraine, they promised to continue working together in support of kyiv “as long as necessary”, especially by providing it with the loan of 50 billion of dollars financed by frozen Russian assets agreed at the last G7 summit.
On the possible use by Ukraine of “Western” long-range missiles on Russian territory, both sides avoided a clear response, although Meloni recalled that it is important for kyiv to have “the best possible conditions” to negotiate peace.
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