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The contemporary migration landscape represents one of the most complex challenges for Europe and the international community. Within the context of political and social transformations linked to flows originating primarily from Africa and the Middle East, Italy has assumed a central role in recent years in efforts to reform migration governance tools. In this process, the government led by Giorgia Meloni has developed initiatives that have gradually established themselves as reference models, anticipating guidelines subsequently adopted by the European Union. Among these, the agreement with Albania for the creation of hubs for processing asylum applications and carrying out repatriation procedures represents a pioneering experience, capable of guiding the European debate towards new operational solutions based on the concept of safe third countries.
THE EVOLUTION OF THE MATTEI PLAN INTO A EUROPEAN STRATEGY
One of the most significant elements of Italian policies, also highlighted by Prime Minister Meloni during the International Conference of the Global Alliance against Migrant Smuggling on November 10, concerns the internationalization of the Mattei Plan for Africa. Born as a national initiative aimed at supporting the economic and social development of African countries, the Plan has gradually gained scope and recognition at the European level. This evolution was made possible through structured cooperation with the European Union’s Global Gateway, supported directly by the President of the European Commission. The convergence of the two initiatives has enabled the mobilization of significant resources exceeding one billion euros, aimed at implementing infrastructure and development projects meant to address the root causes of irregular migration. Thanks to this multilevel synergy, Italy has consolidated its position as a leading player in promoting an integrated and sustainable approach to managing migration flows.
THE ROME PROCESS AND THE BUILDING OF SHARED GOVERNANCE
At the same time, the Italian government has intensified its commitment to the Rome Process for Migration and Development, a multilateral mechanism aimed at coordinating the efforts of the countries involved in managing assisted voluntary returns and stabilizing areas of origin and transit. This instrument has proven particularly effective in fostering systemic cooperation between European states and African partners, helping to define a network of shared responsibilities and targeted interventions. Italian action, therefore, is pursuing a dual objective: on the one hand, promoting development in countries of origin; on the other, defining more efficient procedures for managing people arriving irregularly in Europe.
THE PROTOCOL WITH ALBANIA AS AN INNOVATIVE AND TRAILBLAZING MODEL
The agreement between Italy and Albania represents the most significant innovation in Italian migration policy. Through this agreement, Rome introduced the possibility of examining asylum requests and carrying out repatriations within facilities located outside the EU, while retaining full European jurisdiction. This solution has attracted growing attention from member states, becoming a subject of discussion and political convergence within EU bodies. The experimental nature of the Albanian model has been recognized as a true trailblazer, as it anticipated some of the decisions recently approved by the European Union Interior Ministers, including the introduction of the concept of safe third countries, the creation of a unified list of safe countries of origin, and the adoption of a regulation on returns that provides for the possibility of establishing return hubs in third countries. The Italian vision, firmly supported by the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, has therefore contributed directly to the development of a new European architecture for migration management.
IMPACT ON THE FIGHT AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND REGULATORY PROSPECTS
The model developed by the Italian government also responds to the need to combat the criminal networks that manage migrant trafficking. The creation of faster and more reliable procedures, combined with the prospect of decentralizing certain phases of reception and repatriation, has been interpreted as a deterrent to organizations responsible for a business based on abusive and dangerous practices. Italy has also promoted a broader reflection on the international conventions governing the protection of migrants and asylum seekers, with the aim of assessing whether existing regulations are adequate to address contemporary challenges. This proposal, advanced in collaboration with Denmark and supported by numerous Council of Europe states, led to the drafting of a political declaration marking the beginning of an institutional debate on the need to update international regulatory instruments.
IMPACTING EUROPEAN UNION DECISIONS
The pioneering role of the Italian government and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in managing migration is clearly evident from the initiatives adopted and their impact on European Union decisions. From the transformation of the Mattei Plan into a shared strategy and the consolidation of multilevel cooperation networks, to the Albania model that anticipated EU guidelines, Italy has contributed to redefining the European framework for migration policies. This trajectory demonstrates the desire to address the migration phenomenon with innovative, coordinated tools capable of combining security, responsibility, and development.