Under Italy’s conservative Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, illegal immigration into the country has decreased by 64%, according to the nation’s foreign minister. Meloni’s administration has taken decisive action against smugglers and collaborated with neighboring countries to curb the flow of migrants.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani highlighted the success of these policies on Sunday during an interview on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures.” Tajani emphasized that rigorous border control measures are effective but require significant effort.
“It’s not easy. We’ve worked hard to achieve this goal,” Tajani told Maria Bartiromo. “We are very pleased with the results. We support legal immigration but oppose illegal immigration.”
Tajani explained that Italy has been working on agreements with Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya to reduce the number of boats carrying migrants and combat crime associated with trafficking.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who campaigned on immigration reform, has faced mixed reactions in Europe. However, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, of the left-leaning Labor Party, has praised Italy’s immigration policies.
Tajani stressed Italy’s commitment to tackling human trafficking, which is linked to organized crime involving weapons and drugs.
“Human traffickers are a major criminal element. They are part of the same networks involved in drug and weapon trafficking. We must be strong and fight these organizations, and that’s what we’re doing,” Tajani said.
Meloni had previously discussed the human trafficking crisis in an interview last year, underscoring the need to combat traffickers who use their resources against the state.
“We must fight the traffickers,” Meloni said. “These organizations are growing stronger and using their power and money to undermine our country. We cannot let criminal networks decide who enters our country.”
Tajani, who is currently in the US for the United Nations General Assembly, noted a rise in conservative influence across Europe, including within the new European Commission. He expressed optimism about future growth.
Meloni is considered one of Europe’s most popular leaders, though she has occasionally clashed with more liberal counterparts.
Tajani also touched on Italy’s economic progress, noting improvements such as reduced unemployment and a rising stock market. However, he acknowledged the need for further economic reforms.
Europe as a whole has struggled with slow growth, and earlier this month, former European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi presented a comprehensive report on boosting the economy of the 27-member bloc.
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