Italy stops 200,000 migrants crossing in two years since Meloni took over

Rome: Italy has blocked nearly 200,000 migrants from crossing the Mediterranean since Giorgia Meloni’s Government came to power two years ago, the country’s interior minister has revealed.

The Italians’ strategy has led to a dramatic reduction in migrant arrivals, with so-called “irregular crossings” dropping by 60 per cent in 2024 compared to the previous year.

But the country’s success comes at a cost – Italy has signed crucial agreements with Tunisia and Libya, which received hundreds of millions of euros in aid, trade and investment in exchange for stopping migrant boats from leaving their shores.

The agreements with the North African nations have proven effective in the face of controversy surrounding their implementation.

Italy has been at the forefront of an EU-brokered deal providing over one billion euros in financial aid to Tunisia, helping the country better police its borders.

The Tunisian coast guard has since intercepted tens of thousands of migrants attempting the dangerous sea crossing to Italy.

Italy has also set up a similar cooperation deal with former colony Libya.

The EU has extended similar financial pledges to other African nations, including Egypt and Mauritania, to improve border security and support aid projects.

But human rights groups have strongly criticised these agreements, with some claiming the EU’s deal with Tunisia was “blackmail”.