Keir Starmer of the UK meets with Giorgia Meloni in Rome to talk about migration
The British prime minister and his Italian counterpart also discussed the ongoing situation in Ukraine during his trip.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni met in Rome on Monday to discuss strategies to reduce the number of migrant boat arrivals in their respective countries.
Starmer’s visit to Rome followed a tragic incident where at least eight migrants lost their lives off the French coast while attempting to cross the English Channel over the weekend.
The UK’s new Labour prime minister pledged for enhanced cross-border cooperation to combat gang-related smuggling activities during his visit, which is a part of his diplomatic efforts to strengthen ties with Europe.
Renewing relations with EU leaders has been a top priority for Starmer since his election victory in July, with previous visits to Berlin, Paris, and Dublin. He has abandoned the previous government’s plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda but has left the possibility open for offshore asylum claim processing similar to the arrangement between Italy and Albania.
UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper expressed interest in the collaboration between Italy and Albania, noting that it is still in the early stages.
Starmer’s government aims to intensify deportation flights to curb migrant crossings, utilizing the funds saved from the Rwanda program to assist law enforcement in addressing the issue.
During his visit to Italy, Starmer inspected the National Coordination Centre for Migration to learn about Italy’s successful strategies, which have contributed to a significant reduction in irregular sea arrivals.
Migration has become a pressing concern in the UK, and Starmer is hopeful that Italy’s stringent measures can help deter dangerous crossings in overcrowded boats across the English Channel.
Italy’s tough stance on migration, initiated by Meloni’s conservative government, includes deals with African nations to prevent departures, restrictions on NGO rescue operations, and crackdowns on traffickers.
Moreover, Rome has partnered with Tirana to transfer adult male migrants rescued at sea to Albania for asylum claims processing.
Starmer and Meloni will also address the situation in Ukraine, with Meloni’s government holding the G7 presidency this year. Meloni has been a strong supporter of Ukraine, and discussions will likely touch upon Kyiv’s request to use Western-supplied missiles against Russian targets.
As tensions escalate between Ukraine and Russia, Starmer’s diplomatic efforts aim to navigate these complex geopolitical challenges for the benefit of all parties involved.
Reuters and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
