
The Italian government, under Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, has prevented nearly 200,000 migrants from crossing the Mediterranean into Italy over the past two years, according to Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi.
To achieve this, Italy has provided financial aid, trade deals, and investments to Tunisia and Libya, asking them to stop migrant boats from leaving their shores.
However, these agreements have sparked criticism from human rights groups. Tunisia has been accused of abandoning sub-Saharan migrants in deserts, while Libya has been blamed for detaining migrants in inhumane centers where they face torture and abuse.
Despite these concerns, the strategy has reduced migrant arrivals significantly. Minister Piantedosi said Italy saw a 60% drop in irregular arrivals in 2024 compared to the previous year.
Deportations of asylum seekers denied entry also rose by 16%. He credited this to Italy’s cooperation with the police in migrants’ home and transit countries.
Over two years, this collaboration has blocked 192,000 migrants from Libya and Tunisia from departing for Italy. Additionally, Italy has helped transit countries repatriate more than 21,000 migrants in 2024.
Stopping migrant boats has been a key promise of Meloni’s government. Italy also supports the EU’s €1 billion aid deal with Tunisia to strengthen border patrols. Since the deal, the Tunisian coast guard claims to have intercepted thousands of migrants trying to make the dangerous sea journey.
Critics, however, argue that the deal worsens the treatment of migrants stuck in Tunisia. They accuse Tunisia’s president, Kais Saied, of discriminatory policies against sub-Saharan migrants. Libya’s coast guard also faces accusations of corruption and brutality against migrants trying to cross the Mediterranean.
The EU has extended its financial support to other African countries like Egypt and Mauritania to improve border security and reduce human trafficking.
Still, many boats continue to leave North Africa, and migrants risk their lives in perilous sea crossings. In 2024 alone, around 700 migrants died in Tunisian waters, and over 1,300 died in 2023.
To further discourage migrants, Italy is building two holding centers in Albania. Though legal challenges have delayed the project, the government remains confident that these centers will soon process thousands of migrants. The initiative has drawn interest from other European countries, including the UK.
Tragedies persist despite these measures. On Tuesday, a boat carrying migrants sank in the Mediterranean. Seven survivors were rescued, but 20 others, including women and children, remain missing.
Among the survivors was an eight-year-old Syrian boy whose mother likely drowned. The group hoped to reunite with family in Germany but never made it to shore.
Filippo Mannino, the mayor of Lampedusa, expressed heartbreak over the incident, highlighting the human toll of these dangerous journeys.