Italy needs migration, admits Georgia Meloni, softening her stance

Some on the right accused Georgia Meloni of abandoning her principles after coming to power. Photo: AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia. to Europe.

The expert right-wing prime minister, who came to power by committing to blocking migrant ships in the Mediterranean, toned down his rhetoric as he sought to forge alliances with countries through which migrants leave or pass.

Ms Meloni convened a summit of more than 20 countries and top EU officials in Rome after largely failing to control flows in the first months of her presidency migrants.

Addressing an audience that included the president of Tunisia, as well as representatives from sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East, she said that everyone was affected by illegal migration.

“Nobody benefits from this,” she said, “except for criminal gangs that enrich themselves at the expense of the most vulnerable and use their power even against governments.”

Ms Meloni suggested working more closely with countries of origin to manage migrant flows and combat criminal traffickers. .

However, she said she was ready to create more legal routes to her country as «Europe and Italy need immigration.»

Earlier this month, Italy pledged 425,000 new workers visas for citizens of countries outside the EU. s from 2023 to 2025, increasing the number of permits issued each year to 165,000 in 2025. In 2019, before Covid hit, Italy issued just 30,850 visas.

Critics from the right accused Ms. Meloni, the leader of Italy's ruling party, of abandoning his principles after taking power. P> She said: “The West has too often given the impression that it is more interested in giving lessons than in lending a helping hand. It was probably this uncertainty that made it difficult to move forward with solutions.”

The Rome Summit comes one week after one of the key participants, Tunisian President Kais Syed, signed a memorandum of understanding for a “comprehensive strategic partnership” at a meeting that included Ms Meloni and Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission.

Georgia Meloni with Tunisian President Kais Said at the summit in Rome. Photo: Tunisian Presidency/Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images. sea ​​and the repatriation of immigrants without a residence permit.

“We want our agreement with Tunisia to be a template. Plan for the future. To partner with other countries in the region,” Ms von der Leyen said at the conference.

The EU could work with countries like Tunisia to expand their renewable energy production for the benefit of all, she added.

Mohamed al-Menfi, head of the Libyan Presidential Council, called on wealthier countries to help.

On Sunday, Pope Francis urged European and African governments to help migrants stranded in the desert regions of North Africa, and that the Mediterranean never again becomes a «theater of death» for those who try to cross the border.