Meloni 'failing' on migration

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni concedes she hasn't been able to fulfil her election promise of easing the country's migrant crisis, saying there is no "quick fix" for the problem.

In 2023 there was a 150 per cent increase of arrivals despite new laws and agreements with countries such as Tunisia and Albania.

The world's attention was on Italy when tragedy occurred in February as a boat smashed into rocks off the coast of Calabria, killing at least 94 migrants.

Christopher Hein, professor of migration and asylum law at Rome's Luiss university, says Meloni has failed to make inroads into the issue of migration.

He told CGTN: "At the end of the year and after 14 months of the Meloni government, the objective has failed clearly. Despite several legislative interventions, there has been no change in the numbers."

In July, the European Union finalized an agreement with Tunisia, a main departure point, to stem irregular migration. Meloni said the partnership must be considered as a model for building new relations with north African neighbors.

However, the boats continued to arrive.

In September the hotspot of Lampedusa was inundated to breaking point and EU Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen traveled to see the situation first-hand.

It's hoped a landmark reform of the bloc's migration policy, announced just before Christmas by European Commission President Margaritis Schinas will make a difference.

"The proposals that we have approved recognize that every member state has issues that need to be addressed in a comprehensive, holistic European migration policy," insisted Schinas.

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Under the deal, which needs to be ratified by the European Parliament, countries in the south will accelerate their asylum procedures.

Member states not on the bloc's borders must either share the burden or pay to take in fewer migrants, while there are also plans for more border detention centers.

‌In the meantime, hanging in the balance is an offshore processing plan with Albania.

‌Under the five-year agreement, the Italian government will build two centers to process an estimated 36,000 people hoping to reach Italy each year.

However, the move has been temporarily blocked by the Albanian constitutional court.

Valentina Brinis, Advocacy Officer at Italian NGO Open Arms, insists this plan is not the answer.

"I definitely think that Italy can't and shouldn't have to confront this situation by itself but agreements with countries that are not even part of the EU will not resolve the situation," declared Brinis.‌

The theme is sure to be a key battleground during the European Parliament elections in June 2024.‌

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