Migrants: Similarities between Meloni and Sánchez regarding "regular" migration flows

Friday, Aug 30, 2024

Italian and Spanish leaders share migration policies despite different ideologies, focusing on regular flows and border control.

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[This is an automatically generated summary, for reference only]

Despite differing ideological foundations, Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez share similarities in their migration policies. While Sanchez emphasizes regular migration agreements with origin countries, deportations, and promoting “regular” migration, his approach aligns with Meloni’s focus on border control. Meloni’s strategy has evolved from initial calls for a complete naval blockade to implementing strategies similar to those of preceding governments. Her current policy framework includes externalizing borders through cooperation agreements in departure countries, countering NGO operations in the Mediterranean, and externalizing arrivals via arrangements like the one with Albania. The most effective measure appears to be controlling departure borders, as seen in agreements with Tunisia, which has significantly reduced migrant numbers despite reports of harsh treatment by local forces. Furthermore, Meloni’s government restricts NGOs through measures such as assigning distant ports for rescues, which prolong stays and hinder aid efforts. Conversely, Sánchez is promoting legal migration quotas, a strategy somewhat paralleled by Italy’s “decreto flussi” to facilitate legal employment for foreign workers, suggesting a need for robust legal channels to address demographic needs in Europe.


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