BRITAIN can take a lead role in cracking down on Europe’s immigration crisis, Italy’s interior minister has declared.
Matteo Piantedosi told The Sun Italy’s huge reduction in migrant arrivals could serve as a blueprint for other European nations – including post-Brexit Britain.
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He also highlighted his country’s new deal with Albania to process migrants outside Italy’s borders as a potential game-changer for the rest of the continent.
With the upcoming meeting of G7 interior ministers, which will include Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, the Minister wasted no time calling on the UK to step up.
He declared: “The results we are achieving, in terms of a strong reduction in irregular entries, can be consolidated and strengthened with the support and cooperation of European partners in the projects we are carrying out with African countries.
“The UK could play a key role in this regard.”
Mr Piantedosi attributed Italy’s 65 per cent drop in migrant arrivals to a series of financial agreements with Libya, Tunisia, and Algeria.
And while the migrant processing centre in Albania will not open until later this year, the Italian Government is confident the initiative will act as a strong deterrent.
The minister said about the deal: “This is an innovative model that could contribute to opening a new chapter in the management of migratory flows in line with current international standards and guarantees: faster repatriations, reserving refuge and international protection only for those who truly qualify.
“We are organising to implement accelerated border procedures not only with centres in Albania but also with others already operational in Italy.”
Fifteen EU members, led by Denmark, recently wrote an open letter to the European Commission backing the outsourcing of migration.
And Sir Keir Starmer – who faces significant pressure to stop small boat crossings – also said he was open about pursuing a similar scheme as he held talks with his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni in Rome earlier this week.
He insisted that unlike the “gimmick” Rwanda plan, which he scrapped, this deal would not prevent successful asylum seekers from returning to Britain.
But the PM signalled he was more interested in learning about the Italian Government’s work preventing migrants from reaching its shores.
On his country’s strategy, minister Piantedosi stressed it was not just about stopping migrants at the border but “offering viable alternatives”.
He said these include returning migrants to their countries of origin and “helping them reintegrate through logistical and financial assistance.”
In the long run, he said, Italy is rolling out broader initiatives, like the Mattei Plan, which aims to provide tangible development support for the countries of origin and transit of migrant flows.
Sir Keir announced on Monday Britain is set to add £4million to Meloni’s initiative to help stem irregular migration.
Pressed on his plans today and whether he needs a deterrent, Sir Keir said his focus will be on “dismantling the gangs” through “coordinated international efforts”.
He told ITV he will also ensure “those who enter the UK illegally are swiftly returned to their countries of origin”.