Brussels - Rome: Europe and the Arabs - Agencies
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni confirmed her country's insistence on carrying out a naval mission in the Mediterranean Sea, in agreement with the North African authorities, to confront the migration phenomenon.
“We insist on... Implementing a naval mission in the Mediterranean Sea in agreement with the North African authorities, to combat the migration phenomenon.
She added that the third part of the European mission (Sofia) in the Mediterranean to rescue migrants threatened by drowning was never implemented, because the first part was an attraction for migrants, and it was cancelled.
The Italian Prime Minister continued, "There is a desire to address the issue of migrants seriously. The approach is already in place. I have presented the issue and the solutions that I have always clearly defined. There has been a discussion about this matter and I have sensed a rapprochement between these countries, which fully share the issue." According to what was reported by the news agency. The Middle East
In this context, the Italian Prime Minister stressed the need to strongly resume her country’s partnership with Tunisia, which gives very important signals of cooperation, indicating that this partnership is a model that can be used with other countries in North Africa.
This coincided with the conclusion of discussions by interior ministers of European Union countries that were held over the weekend in Brussels and focused on the issue of immigration and asylum. In this context, and under the title “The External Dimension,” and against the backdrop of the large numbers of irregular arrivals of immigrants and asylum seekers throughout the European Union, the Council discussed ways to Building close and lasting cooperation with transit countries and major countries of origin of migration.
The Ministers supported the need to strengthen the external dimension of EU migration policy in order to address the migration challenges that the EU shares with other continents and countries. They stressed that a coordinated combination of development assistance to combat the root causes of migration, combat migrant smuggling, develop more legal pathways as an alternative to irregular migration, and a sustainable readmission and return policy, will be essential to prevent irregular migration. .
The discussion centered on developing a preventive model, based on strong financing, that would prevent irregular departures. It will be rooted in cooperation with countries of origin and transit and include elements such as joint patrols, joint operations centres, sustained cooperation over time and the development of orderly, regular and safe migration routes. “External migration policy requires comprehensive partnerships with some of our immediate neighbors and dialogues on migration and mobility with partners further afield,” said Fernando Grande Marlaska Gómez, Acting Spanish Interior Minister. “The EU’s external migration policy needs a more preventive approach in order to address Effectively address structural challenges in countries of origin and transit.