The UK Home Secretary, James Cleverly, has commended the Italian authorities for their unwavering efforts to halt migrant boat crossings, recognizing their innovative approaches as a potential source of inspiration for the UK. During a visit to Lampedusa, Italy’s busiest migration hotspot, Cleverly witnessed firsthand the challenges posed by illegal migration and acknowledged the tragic loss of lives in the Channel and the Mediterranean Sea.
Expressing a moral imperative to prevent further boat crossings and disrupt the business model of smuggling gangs, Cleverly emphasized the need for international collaboration. He praised the Italian authorities for their ingenuity and hard work, indicating that he had engaged in discussions with his Italian counterpart to gather ideas that could be implemented in the UK.
Cleverly’s visit included a tour of a police vessel and an operational briefing on the Italian authorities’ response to mass landings. He also met with representatives from the International Organisation for Migration and the International Red Cross and visited various facilities on the island.
Earlier in the week, Cleverly had visited Rome, where he discussed efforts to combat illegal migration with Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi. Both parties pledged to intensify their efforts and enhance cooperation with source and transit countries.
When asked about specific ideas that he could bring back to the UK from Italy, Cleverly highlighted the different circumstances faced by the two countries. Nevertheless, he acknowledged Italy’s successful initiatives in collaborating with North African and Western Balkan countries, including an arrangement with Albania.
While acknowledging that Italy’s Rwanda scheme is different from the UK’s, Cleverly emphasized the importance of credible deterrents, stabilizing countries of origin, and targeting people smugglers’ supply chains. He noted that many of the measures employed by Italy mirror those adopted by the UK in its efforts to halt migrant boat crossings.
