France and Italy have launched a new project aimed at sharing information on migrant trafficking in an effort to control illegal migration. The interior ministers of both countries signed the agreement, which follows a similar deal that France has with the United Kingdom, created in 2020 to prevent migrants from crossing the Channel. This collaboration between France and Italy is expected to enhance efforts to combat human trafficking by coordinating judicial investigations and actions against the networks responsible.
France’s new Interior Minister, Bruno Retailleau, is focused on tightening immigration laws, aligning with the country’s prime minister, who emphasized the need to control borders more effectively. This new project comes at a time when immigration remains a hot issue in Italy as well. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of Italy has promised to significantly reduce the number of migrants entering the country, but her government has faced challenges in delivering results.
The French interior ministry has made it clear that the goal is to dismantle the illegal trafficking networks that facilitate the flow of migrants through Italy to other parts of the European Union. France is often seen as a key destination for these migrants. In addition to controlling immigration, the initiative aims to support legal proceedings that target these criminal organizations, which are at the heart of the illegal movement of people across borders.
The relationship between France and Italy over migration has had its ups and downs. In November 2022, tensions escalated when Italy denied a charity rescue ship carrying migrants the right to dock. This forced the ship to head to France, straining relations between the two countries. Despite sharing a 500 km (300 mile) border through the Alps, both countries are part of the EU’s Schengen area, where there are no border checks, but each nation remains responsible for asylum seekers entering its territory.