UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is meeting Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni in Rome on Monday to discuss collaborative strategies for addressing migration and supporting Ukraine. The visit follows the tragic deaths of at least eight migrants off the French coast over the weekend.
Starmer, representing the centre-left Labour Party, and Meloni, leading the far-right Brothers of Italy party, are united by their concern over migration, despite their differing political ideologies. Starmer aims to learn from Italy’s stringent migration policies to curb the dangerous crossings from France to the UK, where over 22,000 migrants have attempted the perilous journey this year.
Meloni’s government has implemented strict measures to deter migrants, including agreements with African nations, restrictions on humanitarian rescue ships, and a deal with Albania to process some asylum claims. This has resulted in a 60% decrease in boat arrivals to Italy in the first half of the year, according to Italy’s Interior Ministry.
Starmer’s visit to Italy is part of his broader effort to reset relations with European neighbors following Brexit. He has dismissed the previous Conservative government’s controversial plan to send asylum-seekers to Rwanda as ineffective and expensive. Instead, Starmer is exploring alternative solutions similar to Italy’s agreements with Albania.
The discussions in Rome will also include support for Ukraine, a key topic following Starmer’s recent talks with US President Joe Biden about Ukraine’s request to extend the range of Western-supplied missiles. Meloni, a staunch supporter of Ukraine, aligns with Starmer on this issue as he seeks to strengthen international cooperation amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.