Rome: Significantly fewer irregular migrants arrived in Italy via the Mediterranean Sea last year than in previous years, the Interior Ministry in Rome reported on Monday.
It counted 66,317 new arrivals in 2024, compared to over 157,000 in 2023 and over 105,000 in 2022.
Italy’s right-wing government attributes this to tougher action against irregular migration. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni came to power two years ago with the promise to stem the arrival of refugees to the country, and her government has taken a hard-line approach to migration since then.
One reason for the decline is likely to be new EU agreements with countries such as Tunisia, which are intended to deter migrants from travelling to EU countries. Similar agreements with other North African countries are in the pipeline. (DPA)
