ROME, Feb 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — More than 150,000 migrants arrived in Italy by sea last year, many of them picked up by charity rescue boats.
Another 30,000, hoping to settle down in Britain, made the treacherous journey across the English Channel in 2023.
The continued influx of those seeking a better life have forced the leaders of the two countries to tighten their migration policies.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni are looking at dealing with migration through “offshoring”, where migrants are processed in a third country.
The United Kingdom’s parliament is debating the government’s controversial Rwanda Bill, which would allow migrants to be sent to the African nation for processing, asylum and resettlement.
Under a five-year agreement, successful asylum seekers could be granted refugee status to stay in Rwanda. None will be allowed to return to Britain.
Ministers who back the treaty said the plan would deter migrants from crossing the English Channel, often in precarious conditions in small boats, to reach the UK.
Despite strong criticism during the bill’s first debate in the House of Lords, it was voted to move forward to the next stage.
Italy has developed a similar plan to process migrants in nearby Albania – a reflection of the close collaboration between the nations on the issue of migration.
The deal will allow the Italian government to build two centres in the northern Albanian city of Shengjin to process about 3,000 migrants a month.
After their asylum applications have been assessed, they will either be resettled in Italy or be repatriated.
Albania’s constitutional court this week greenlighted the agreement, which will go on to be ratified in parliament.
Both schemes have faced legal challenges and have been met with criticisms from opposition and rights groups.
Last year, the European Union clinched a deal on reforming its migration policy, which Meloni pushed hard for, even though she acknowledged it would not solve the problem.
The growing partnership between Sunak and Meloni was clear to see over the course of 2023.
Meloni was the only Group of Seven (G7) leader present at an artificial intelligence summit hosted by the UK in November last year.
In return, Sunak flew to Rome last December to speak at a right-wing festival, where he vowed to work with his Italian counterpart to review international rules on asylum seeking.
Both leaders have staked their political futures on this issue, even though there are doubts that governments can control migration flows. — NNN-AGENCIES
