Italy premier says illegal migrants are 'enemies' of legal ones

By Giada Zampano

ROME (AA) – Italy’s Premier Giorgia Meloni on Wednesday said "illegal migrants are the enemies of legal ones," as she explained her government's new approach at the Trans-Mediterranean Migration Forum in Tripoli, Libya.

"We have not been able to allow many legal migrants to come to Italy in recent years because we have had too many illegal ones," Meloni said.

"Criminal organizations want to decide who has the right to enter our country and who does not,” she added.

Meloni stressed that her far-right government has approved decrees expanding the quotas for legal migrants allowed to enter Italy for three years, favoring the countries that help Rome fight against human traffickers.

"I think everyone can see that the Mediterranean is a priority for this Italian government and the Mediterranean cannot exist without Italy and Libya together,” the Italian premier said, in front of Libyan authorities.

Meloni has insisted that addressing migration flows needs “a 360 degree approach,” able to tackle the issue in a comprehensive way.

Rome is aiming at investing in North African countries through the so-called Mattei Plan, which seeks to address the roots of irregular migration while turning Italy into a sort of hub for energy supplies.

"The right way is strategic cooperation between equals, taking investments to Africa that solve problems for both parties," Meloni said.