EU must be effective in repatriating illegal migrants - PM

(ANSA) - ROME, MAR 18 - Premier Giorgia Meloni on Tuesday said the European Union needed to become more effective in repatriating illegal migrants, briefing the Senate ahead of a European Council this week.
    "We have welcomed with favour the European Commission's proposal on a regulation for repatriations, we consider it a very significant development also to harmonize the practice of different member States and to make repatriations more effective", said the premier.
    Meloni noted that, "if you enter Europe illegally, you cannot remain on European territory illegally, you must be repatriated".
    The prime minister told the Senate that the government's objective was a "drastic reduction of landings in the central Mediterranean thanks to a decrease in departures from Tunisia and Libya and a reduction of irregular entries also from other routes".
    "In 2024 they have gone down by 60% from 2023 and by 35% with respect to 2022", the premier said. (ANSA).