ROME: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni convened a one-day summit on Sunday, bringing together around 20 nations, EU officials, and international organizations with the aim of addressing issues related to Mediterranean nations, particularly migration. The conference, opened by Meloni, seeks to create new and more equitable relationships between Europe and countries of origin and transit for migrants, while finding ways to stanch flows of illegal migration.
One of the key issues discussed at the summit is migration, as Italy continues to witness hundreds of new arrivals daily on Europe’s southern border. The summit also addresses energy needs, with Europe seeking alternatives to Russian supplies by looking to Africa and the Middle East.
During the opening meeting, Meloni stressed the importance of cooperation in tackling the migration challenge. She proposed four main areas of future cooperation: combating criminal organizations involved in trafficking migrants, better managing migrant flows, supporting refugees, and providing assistance to countries of origin.
Meloni highlighted the need for better management of migration flows, which would create space for legal migration opportunities. She emphasized that alongside the right to migrate, there should be attention to the right of individuals to not be forced to emigrate, leave their homes, and abandon their land.
Rome Conference to Discuss Migration Amid Concerns
The conference also comes amid reports of migrants being pushed back from Tunisia into Libya, where they face difficult conditions in the desert. Pope Francis, in his traditional Sunday blessing, urged European and African leaders to find a solution for the thousands of people blocked at North African borders, calling for fraternity, solidarity, and welcoming.
The Rome summit involved participants from both northern and sub-Saharan African nations, as well as the Middle East. However, some human rights groups expressed concerns that the conference might lead to anti-migrant policies and place the onus on Africa to prevent migrants from reaching Europe.
The summit took place a week after Tunisian President Kais Saied signed a memorandum of understanding for a “comprehensive strategic partnership” with Italy and the EU Commission. The EU has promised financial support to help restart Tunisia’s economy and aid in border control and search and rescue missions at sea.
The Mediterranean region continues to witness tragic migrant deaths, with over 1,900 people dead or missing at sea so far this year. The International Organization for Migration reports a total of 27,675 deaths and missing migrants since 2014, with an additional 483 deaths or missing cases in Africa this year.
