Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni presided over this afternoon’s cabinet meeting held in Cutro, Calabria. That is, in the place where, a few dozen meters from the coast, a shipwreck occurred on February 26, in which 72 immigrants and refugees died.

During a press conference following the cabinet meeting, Meloni announced a number of new measures and initiatives to work with refugees and immigrants. As he pointed out, her government had decided to focus on combating human trafficking. Under what was passed today, sentences for traffickers will be increased to 30 years from the current maximum of 15 years. Specific penalties will be provided if operators of trips organized in the Mediterranean by illegal slave networks cause the deaths of migrants and refugees. This maximum penalty may also be imposed in the event of the death of passengers on ships outside of Italy. “This is a universal crime. We want everyone to understand that it is beneficial for them to come to our country legally, and we will prepare special communication campaigns,” the Italian Prime Minister stressed.

Based on today’s decisions, as emphasized, deportations of illegal immigrants will be increased and new centers will be created for the temporary stay of those who have been decided to repatriate.

“We approved the return of legal flows. Priority will be given to workers with professional training recognized in Italy,” Meloni said.

At the same time, he stressed that “in recent years, no decisions have been made on legal immigration flows, due to the increasing size of illegal immigration.”

Finally, the Italian Prime Minister stressed that her country was looking forward to new, meaningful responses from the European Union, starting with more substantial economic cooperation with Tunisia, where many of the smugglers bound for Lower Italy have recently departed.

Source: RES-IPE