The UK and Italy have pledged to build on their strong
cooperation to stop illegal migrant crossings to Europe.
The Home Secretary, , met Interior Minister
Matteo Piantedosi in Rome on Tuesday (April 23) to discuss the
work that both countries are doing to stop the viability of
crossing routes through the Western Balkans and North Africa.
The ministers said that, while coordinated action had shown good
promise, both sides would step up efforts and do more in source
and transit countries.
Both leaders praised the joint working of law enforcement
agencies in tackling organised immigration crime, including work
to break up supply chains for small boats. They pledged to push
forward further action to disrupt the networks of people
smugglers.
They also discussed how both countries would continue to look for
innovative solutions. The Home Secretary updated on the UK
Government's Rwanda scheme while Italian Interior Minister
Piantedosi spoke about Italy's deal with Albania to process
asylum seekers.
The Home Secretary also thanked Italy for its leadership on
migration through its G7 Presidency and the Rome Process.
Yesterday, the Home Secretary also visited the small island of
Lampedusa, which, last year, was the busiest migration
hotspot in Italy, with around 110,000 migrants landing there.
He went on a police vessel to understand how they conduct
activities against migrant smuggling and was given an operational
briefing on how agencies respond to mass landings.
At a reception facility he spoke to the International
Organisation for Migration, the International Red Cross. The Home
Secretary was shown the medical centre, family accommodation and
the registration office at the site.
On Tuesday the Home Secretary visited the General Command of
the Italian Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre.
He was shown the state-of-the-art technology used by the Italian
Coast Guard during complex search and rescue operations.
The Home Secretary thanked the Italian Coast Guard for preserving
life at sea and praised the joint working between UK and Italian
authorities.
