Starmer Meets Italian PM Over Migrant Crisis

UK, Italy Leaders Unite on Immigration After Tragedy

The perilous journey across the Channel from northern France has posed a recurring challenge for British Prime Ministers...

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer meets Italian PM Giorgia Meloni to discuss migration crisis, as Italy reports 64% drop in sea arrivals this year, with 44,675 migrants arriving between January 1 and September 13.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer will meet Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome on Monday, September 16, to discuss the pressing issue of illegal immigration. This meeting follows a devastating shipwreck in the Channel, resulting in the loss of eight migrant lives.

Prime Minister Starmer, whose Labour Party won a significant parliamentary majority in July, has vowed to tackle illegal immigration, a long-standing and divisive issue in British politics. His commitment comes amidst a backdrop of far-right unrest, which erupted across England and Northern Ireland following his election. The violent protests targeted mosques and migrant centers, marking the UK's worst civil unrest since 2011.

The perilous journey across the Channel from northern France has posed a recurring challenge for British Prime Ministers. Tragically, eight migrants lost their lives on Sunday when their overcrowded vessel capsized, bringing the total fatalities this year to 46.

Despite the risks, migrants continue to attempt the crossing. On Saturday, a significant 800 individuals made the journey, marking the second-highest daily total this year, according to UK Home Office records.

Prime Minister Starmer has rejected the previous government's plan to deport all illegal migrants to Rwanda for asylum processing. Instead, he seeks to explore alternative solutions, including learning from Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's approach to managing the EU's migration crisis.

Italy has pioneered a new strategy, establishing two centers in Albania in partnership with the Albanian government. These centers will accommodate up to 3,000 migrants who arrive in Italy by sea, providing a safe space for their asylum claims to be processed. Italy will fund and oversee the operations of these centers, which aim to address the migration challenges facing the region.

Under Italy's approach, migrants whose asylum claims are rejected will be repatriated to their home country, while those whose claims are approved will be granted entry into Italy. This contrasts with the former UK government's Rwanda plan, which would have permanently barred migrants sent to Rwanda from settling in the UK, regardless of the outcome of their asylum claim.

In other words, Italy's policy offers a pathway to settlement for migrants with valid asylum claims, whereas the Rwanda plan would have resulted in indefinite exclusion from the UK for all migrants sent to Rwanda, even if their claims were eventually approved.

Starmer said of the Italian scheme, “It's in early days, I'm interested in how that works, I think everybody else is.

“I and Meloni have already discussed how we can improve joint operations, so that is something we will discuss.”

The meeting between Prime Minister Starmer and Italian Prime Minister Meloni is scheduled for 12:00 pm local time (10:00 am GMT), as announced by Meloni's office.

Starmer will be accompanied by Martin Hewitt, the newly appointed head of the UK's Border Security Command, on his visit to Italy, according to his office.

Italy has also secured an agreement with Tunisia, providing aid in exchange for enhanced efforts to curb illegal migration from North Africa and prevent crossings into Italy via the Mediterranean.

According to the Italian Interior Ministry, there has been a substantial decrease in migrant sea arrivals this year. Between January 1 and September 13, Italy received 44,675 migrants, a significant drop from the 125,806 arrivals recorded during the same period in the previous year, representing a 64% decline.