Since coming to power in 2022, Giorgia Meloni, the Italian Prime Minister, implemented a strict and controversial migration policy. Today, this approach appears to be bearing fruit, with a significant drop in illegal immigration. According to figures from the Italian Ministry of the Interior, the number of migrants landing on Italian shores has fallen by 65% compared to 2023, falling from 114,000 to around 41,000 over the same period in 2024.
A deterrent strategy and international agreements
One of the keys to this decline is the strategy adopted by the Meloni government, which has stepped up repression against smugglers and trafficking networks. In addition, Italy has concluded cooperation agreements with transit countries, including Tunisia, to stem the departure of migrants. These agreements have made it possible to repatriate more than 9 illegal immigrants in 000, thus reinforcing the deterrent effect of Italian policy.
However, this drop in arrivals in Italy does not mean the end of migratory flows towards Europe. Indeed, migratory routes have shifted, leading to a significant increase in landings in Greece (+222%) and Spain (+155%). This redirection of flows poses new challenges, both for Italy and for its European partners.
A fragile success
Despite the apparent success of this policy, several questions remain. The agreement with Tunisia, for example, rests largely on the will of Tunisian President Kaïs Saïed, whose cooperation could prove unstable. Moreover, while illegal immigration has decreased, legal immigration has increased by 50% in 2023, highlighting the complexity of the migration phenomenon.
In short, Giorgia Meloni's migration policy, although criticized, has managed to significantly reduce illegal arrivals in Italy. However, the sustainability of this success remains uncertain, and the shift in migratory flows to other European countries shows that the management of immigration in the Mediterranean remains a complex and evolving challenge.
