UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is in Rome to meet Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni. They will discuss tackling illegal immigration and support for Ukraine.
The midday meeting will focus on Italy’s deal with Albania. This agreement involves sending rescued migrants to Albania for processing.
Starmer, leader of Britain’s centre-left Labour party, aims to understand Italy’s migration scheme. This visit follows his pledge for a new era in cross-border cooperation against people smuggling gangs, Reuters reports.
Starmer has abandoned the previous government’s plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda. He is keen to learn about Italy’s approach.
Last year, Meloni signed an agreement with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama. This deal aims to transport asylum seekers to Albania and process their requests there.
Starmer defended his visit to Italy, highlighting the importance of “upstream work” to prevent irregular migration. He emphasised that stopping migrants from setting off is crucial.
In a broadcast clip, Starmer said:
“I’m here to discuss how we address unlawful migration. The dramatic reductions in Italy are noteworthy. I want to understand how this success was achieved.
“I’ve long believed, by the way, that prevention and stopping people travelling in the first place is one of the best ways to deal with this particular issue.”
He added:
“It appears that upstream work in countries of origin is effective. Preventing migration before it starts is key. I look forward to discussing other schemes and bilateral cooperation with the prime minister.”
In addition to illegal immigration, Starmer and Meloni will also explore deepening economic ties and renewing support for Ukraine.
