Giorgia Meloni on Refugee Policy
Giorgia Meloni advocates for a hardline approach to irregular immigration, campaigning on a promise to halt illegal migrant arrivals, often through a naval blockade. As Prime Minister, her government has implemented stricter measures to combat unauthorized entries, prioritizing security and national borders.
Her stance distinguishes between different groups of arrivals, explicitly supporting refugee status for those fleeing war, such as Ukrainians, while taking a zero-tolerance stance against other asylum seekers. This policy is tied to her broader national-conservative platform, which also includes promoting domestic birth rates to reduce the need for migrant labor.
Meloni has been criticized for rhetoric linking immigration to broader conspiracy theories and for policies that some view as undermining the rights of non-citizen residents. Despite the strong rhetoric, her government has also engaged in diplomacy, such as agreements with Tunisia, to sign deals focused on stopping illegal immigration from Tunisia to Europe, suggesting a pragmatic approach alongside ideological firmness.
Timeline
- Prior to the 2022 election, Meloni campaigned for lower taxes and a halt to illegal immigration through a naval blockade.
- Meloni stated support for granting refugee status to those fleeing war, such as Ukrainians, but suggested treating other asylum seekers differently.
- Immediately upon taking office, the Meloni government implemented stricter policies than previous administrations regarding the fight against illegal immigration.
- Amidst a migration crisis, Meloni asserted that Europe and Italy need immigration but only legal immigration, stating illegal immigration must be fought.
- Meloni traveled to Tunis to sign an agreement with President Kais Saied to strengthen the economic partnership and, especially, the fight against irregular migration flows.
Actions Taken
- Campaign promise/RhetoricCampagned on a promise to implement a naval blockade to halt illegal immigration.
- Policy implementationImplemented stricter policies than previous governments regarding the fight against illegal immigration in the first weeks after taking office.
- Diplomacy/Official requestWrote to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, asking for accelerated implementation of the agreement with Tunisia to stop migration flows following a crisis on Lampedusa.
- Bilateral agreementSigned an agreement with Tunisian President Kais Saied focused on strengthening cooperation to fight irregular migration flows.
Criticism
Described Giorgia Meloni and her policies as xenophobic and Islamophobic.
Accused her of embracing the Great Replacement conspiracy theory, suggesting a planned mass migration to 'replace Italians with immigrants'.
Criticized her administration's general approach to migration management.
Suggested that the affair concerning the repatriation of Libyan General Almasri would have been buried without media focus on immigration and the Libyan mafia's control.
Sources5
- Meloni complained about the danger of ethnic substitution also in her 2019 book on the Nigerian mafia, co-written with Alessandro Meluzzi...
- In 2023, amidst an unprecedented migration crisis, she asserted that Europe and Italy need immigration and that only illegal immigration must be fought in favour of legal immigration. Meloni wanted to make a deal with Tunisian president Kais Saied with a focus on stopping illegal immigration from Tunisia to Europe.
- On 16 July, Prime Minister Meloni, along with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, travelled to Tunis in order to sign an agreement with President Kais Saied regarding the strengthening of the economic partnership between Europe and Tunisia, the European diplomatic support for the disbursement of the loan from IMF and, especially, the fight against irregular migration flows.
- Amid the 2022 escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War, Meloni said she supported giving refugee status to those coming from a war-shaken country but not to other asylum seekers. She said: "It's time to call things by their name, to give refugee status to those fleeing war, women, and children, perhaps doing the opposite with those who aren't refugees."
- She campaigned for lower taxes, less European bureaucracy, and a halt to illegal immigration through a naval blockade, saying she would put national interests first.
* This is not an exhaustive list of sources.