British PM Starmer and Italian PM Meloni Discuss Controversial Immigration Policy in Rome
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer discussed migration during his first official visit to Rome (Flickr)
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer made his first official visit to Rome to hold immigration talks and reinforce ties with Italian Prime Minister Gerogia Meloni on September 16, a mere day after the death of eight migrants in the English Channel. Starmer voiced his interest in Italy’s recent immigration policies that seek to limit the arrival of migrants and smuggling gangs from Africa, according to the French newspaper Le Monde. In addition, Starmer offered to contribute four million pounds to the Italian government’s immigration effort, the Rome Process.
Prime Minister Starmer’s visit with Meloni, who leads Italy’s far-right Brothers of Italy Party (FdI), whose positions often contrast those of Starmer’s center-left Labour Party, comes at a time when migration is a top political issue in the United Kingdom. According to Euro News, more than 24,000 migrants have crossed the English Channel from France into the United Kingdom since the beginning of 2024. Recent anti-immigrant riots that spread across the country in late July and early August have further politicized the issue. Starmer’s visit to Italy may increase Labour’s toughness on migration. Meanwhile, other officials within the government oppose the visit, with Member of Parliament Kim Johnson of Liverpool Riverside calling it “disturbing” and Nadia Whittome of Nottingham East expressing that the United Kingdom should not follow in Italy’s footsteps, according to BBC News.
Starmer’s interest in a plan to process the applications of migrants who have come to the United Kingdom is a toned-down response to previous Conservative proposals. Labour disregarded the plan that would have implemented policies to relocate asylum seekers to Rwanda, where they could apply for refugee status.
Meloni’s plan to curb illegal migration into Italy from North African nations depends on stopping immigration at its source before it reaches the shores of Italy. The EU and Italy have granted Tunisia financial assistance for projects regarding energy and education in exchange for their increased efforts to curb migration across the Mediterranean. Italy additionally funded and trained the Libyan coastguard in migrant interception, according to BBC News. Starmer has indicated that the United Kingdom might be eager to implement a similar model of paying North African countries to limit further boat crossings.
Furthermore, Albania and Italy finalized a deal in February to send nearly 3,000 adult male migrants coming from North Africa into Italy to detention centers in Albania, according to Aljazeera and the Associated Press (AP). The agreement is part of the Italian government’s effort to process asylum claims abroad. Starmer commended these policies of Meloni’s in a joint press conference, highlighting the “remarkable progress” of the Italian government in addressing the root causes of “irregular arrivals,” which he claimed were “down 60 percent since 2022.”
Lia Ypi of the Guardian has criticized Italy’s plan with Albania for its intent to send asylum seekers processed outside of Italy. Ypi argues that as the cost to process each migrant, including personnel, health professionals, and administrators, is the same in Italy, if not less, the policy makes immigrants “invisible.” Additionally, the immigration plans of individual countries may work against a more extensive, coordinated EU process. Amnesty International also criticized the Albanian plan, calling it “a stain on the Italian government,” according to Euro News.
Prime Minister Starmer also visited Italy to strengthen U.K. ties with European allies, especially after Britain exited the EU in 2020. According to AP, Starmer’s agenda also included continued support for Ukraine on his agenda, as Meloni is a staunch supporter of the nation’s defense efforts against the Russian invasion.