The ‘Mattei Plan’ or how Giorgia Meloni has managed to reduce illegal migration to Italy by more than 60%

Since the beginning of this year, some 40,000 foreigners have managed to arrive in Italy illegally. More than 70,000 less than in the same period in 2023, when 113,000 arrived. One of the main issues that the Italian Prime Minister wanted to address, Giorgia Meloniwhen he came to power, it was precisely immigration, and now, based on the data provided by his Executive, he can boast of having achieved it.

How has it achieved this? It is the result of strong policies against illegal immigration and Bilateral agreements with African countries to try to stem the flow of migrants. Its African foreign policy has been essential.

‘Mattei Plan’

His ‘star’ idea has been the Mattei Planwhich seeks to encompass various areas of society in African countries. Presented by Meloni in January 2024 and endowed with several projects with funding of at least 5.5 billion eurosThe aim of the plan was to launch projects in Africa that would focus on five areas: education, health, agriculture, water and energy.

However, Meloni’s diplomatic efforts for her ‘anti-immigration’ plan began a year earlier, although the results have not been seen until this year. In 2023, she traveled to several North African countries on several occasions accompanied by the President of the European Commission, Ursula Von der Leyenand signed cooperation agreements.

With Tunisia, for example, Von der Leyen, Meloni and the then Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte, signed an agreement on migration whose economic scope totaled more than 300 million euros to stop the rise of small boats in the Mediterranean. In exchange for Tunisia protecting its borders better, the EU decided to invest in the North African country. In total, Meloni travelled to the Tunisian capital four times to promote his work. Mattei Plan.

In January 2023, Meloni signed a strategic energy agreement with Algeria that promoted the construction of a gas pipeline between the two countries for the supply of natural gas and hydrogen.

With Egypt, Meloni and Von der Leyen also signed an agreement that included a €7.4 billion aid package until 2027 to help its economy and, in particular, its work in hosting refugees.

Right to asylum

A direct policy against the hope of immigrants to stay in Italy was the restriction imposed by Meloni to the right of asylumwhich was denied to thousands of foreigners who managed to reach the Italian coast.

According to data from the Italian Ministry of the Interior, until mid-August this year, asylum denials increased by 91% compared to the same period in 2023. This policy has been heavily criticized by the Italian opposition.

The Meloni government has also been stricter with humanitarian NGOs such as Doctors Without Borders (MSF) and Open Arms. On Tuesday, for example, the authorities fined MSF and decided to block its ship Geo Barents for the next 60 days for not informing maritime rescue services about its migrant rescue operations. In recent days, MSF had rescued 191 people at sea.