**Giorgia Meloni on the reality of migration: a struggle between security, humanity and jurisprudence**
1 February 2025 will mark a new milestone in the Italian government’s saga regarding the management of migration flows. A boat carrying 43 migrants has left the port of Shëngjin in Albania for Italy, an action that illustrates the tensions between Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s migration policies and the legal and humanitarian realities her government faces. This situation is not only indicative of the specific challenges faced by Italy, but also raises broader questions about how Europe is managing the migration crisis.
**A project under constant criticism**
Giorgia Meloni, with a mandate supported by a political platform focused on security and border control, has attempted to implement a bold plan to outsource the processing of asylum applications to third countries, with the aim of easing the pressure on reception centres in Italy. However, recent legal setbacks, such as the referral of the case to the European Court of Justice (ECJ), highlight the legal limitations of this project. Indeed, the ECJ has already ruled on the impossibility of considering an entire country as “safe”, even if some of its regions could present precarious or even dangerous living conditions.
To better understand this dynamic, it is essential to examine the disparities between Italian migration policies and those of other European countries. For example, nations such as Germany and France have adopted more integrative approaches, seeking to harmonize asylum processes within the EU, while respecting the fundamental rights of migrants. In contrast, Italy, still burdened by a history of massive migration crises, seems to be leaning towards more restrictive solutions, seeking to quickly repatriate rejected asylum seekers.
**Data that speaks for itself**
To fully grasp the scale of the migration challenge Italy is facing, it is crucial to analyze recent data. In 2023, Italy recorded a 30% increase in migrant arrivals compared to the previous year, a phenomenon accentuated by precarious living conditions in countries of origin such as Bangladesh and Egypt, which represent a significant share of migrant groups.
At the same time, studies conducted by non-governmental organizations show that genuine integration of migrants could generate economic value for host countries. Migrants contribute 1.2% to host countries’ GDP, raising questions about the current approach to closed borders, according to an OECD study..
**Migration policy in question**
Recent events highlight not only the effectiveness of the measures put in place by the Meloni government but also the growing criticism from civil society and opposition parties. The reception centres run by Italy in Albania, supposed to serve as an alternative solution, quickly ran into legal challenges, illustrating a gap between political ambitions and legal reality.
The Italian approach to managing migration flows, which seeks to strengthen security criteria while delocalising the responsibility for reception, may well fail the test of long-term viability. Indeed, the idea that security and human rights are in opposition is not inevitable. Successful experiences in other European countries show that the two aspects can be reconciled, by valuing the potential of migrants as contributors to society.
**Towards a necessary reform?**
The question that arises then is that of the future of the migration model envisaged by Meloni: is it a short-term vision, dictated by political fears, or an opportunity to rethink the European migration system? For Italy to break out of this impasse, a collaborative approach with other EU nations and a reassessment of asylum laws are crucial.
Thus, with a CJEU hearing looming on the horizon in February 2025, Italy finds itself at a crossroads: a chance to review its migration policies or a risk of continuing to navigate between ineffective solutions and to reinforce internal and external tensions. In this context, it is imperative that the voice of migrants is heard and their rights are respected, otherwise the long-term consequences could be disastrous, both in human terms and for the political stability of Italy and Europe as a whole.
**Conclusion**
The situation surrounding migrants arriving from Albania in Italy is not limited to a simple question of migration. It reveals profound issues concerning justice, European solidarity and respect for human rights. Italy, under the leadership of Giorgia Meloni, will have to choose between policies that reinforce barriers or those that build bridges. In an interconnected world, it is essential to find a balance that recognizes human dignity while ensuring the security of nations.