Latest news with #Piantedosi
Libya Review
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Libya Review
Italy Commits to Ties with Eastern Libya Despite Benghazi Fallout
Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi has played down Tuesday's diplomatic incident in Benghazi, where a European Union delegation, including Italian officials, was denied a scheduled meeting with representatives from eastern Libya. Speaking to Italian broadcaster Rai on Wednesday, Piantedosi clarified that the meeting was cancelled due to resentment on the Libyan side over the overzealousness of some of the EU representatives. He added that the earlier leg of the visit in Tripoli had been 'very insightful,' stressing that the unexpected cancellation would not derail Rome's ongoing cooperation with Libya. 'We will keep moving forward in the fight against human traffickers,' Piantedosi said. 'There is a structured relationship with Libya, and one incident will not undermine our longstanding cooperation.' The visit was part of broader European efforts to manage irregular migration across the Mediterranean. In Tripoli, Piantedosi had announced that Italy would provide four new rubber patrol boats to Libya's coastguard, underlining Italy's support for Libyan-led efforts to curb migrant departures. He also praised Libya's recent steps in repatriating migrants, particularly amid a surge in arrivals of Bangladeshi and Eritrean nationals to Europe via Libya in 2025. Meanwhile, the Libyan government appointed by the House of Representatives and supported by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar declined to host the EU delegation in Benghazi. Tags: benghaziItalylibyaMatteo Piantedosi
Libya Review
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Libya Review
Italy to Provide Boats to Libyan Coast Guard to Curb Migration
Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi has commended Libya for its efforts in returning irregular migrants to their home countries, stressing the need to continue and strengthen bilateral cooperation. Speaking at a migration conference held in Tripoli on Tuesday, Piantedosi said Rome appreciates 'the significant efforts made by Libya since last year to repatriate irregular migrants,' especially through the operation of migrant shelters. He highlighted that 'bilateral cooperation channels are very important and must be maintained,' announcing that Italy is ready to deliver four inflatable patrol boats to the Libyan Coast Guard as part of recent joint agreements on border management. 'We recognise the great work Libya is doing to curb or prevent irregular migration by sea,' Piantedosi added. 'However, this year has seen a notable rise in the number of migrants reaching Europe via the Libyan route—particularly nationals from Bangladesh and Eritrea.' He expressed confidence that the partnership with Libya would yield 'practical solutions,' saying Italy's strategic vision aims to reduce migrant flows not only across the Mediterranean but also overland. The Tripoli conference brought together Libyan and European officials to address growing concerns over migration through North Africa. Libya remains one of the main departure points for migrants attempting to reach Europe, many of whom face dire conditions in overcrowded detention centres. Italian and EU support has increasingly focused on reinforcing Libyan border control capacity and improving conditions in migrant shelters—efforts that have drawn both praise and criticism from international human rights groups. Tags: Interior MinisterItalylibyaMatteo Piantedosimigration
Libya Observer
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Libya Observer
Italy sees rise in migration amid renewed Libya tensions
Italy's Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi has reported a slight uptick in irregular migration from North Africa, citing renewed tensions in Libya as a key driver. In comments to the Italian news agency ANSA on Monday, Piantedosi said the unrest in Tripoli since mid-May has led to a modest increase in the number of migrants leaving Libya's shores and arriving in Italy, compared with the same period last year. 'We are witnessing renewed conflict among factions in several North African countries, including Libya,' he said. 'This has contributed to a slight rise in arrivals on Italian coasts.' The minister stressed that Rome is developing stricter controls on migration as part of efforts to stabilise the situation and safeguard national interests. 'We cannot afford to overlook any factor when it comes to protecting our country,' Piantedosi added. He also pointed to instability in the Middle East as a contributing factor, prompting Italy to step up surveillance and internal security measures. Tags: Italy illegal immigration
Business Recorder
08-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Dar tells Italy minister about upward trajectory of ties
ISLAMABAD: Italy's Minister for Interior Matteo Piantedosi paid a courtesy call on Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. Dar expressed satisfaction at the upward trajectory of Pakistan-Italy relations. He observed that the established architecture of dialogue between the two countries provided an excellent basis for regular interaction. He highlighted that there was immense potential to expand bilateral ties in the areas of trade and investment, security and education. Dar appreciated Pakistan-Italy's growing cooperation in the area of labour mobility and welcomed the concluding of MoU on Migration and Labour Mobility between Pakistan and Italy as a major milestone. Minister Piantedosi positively assessed Pakistan-Italy relations and expressed Italian side's keenness to expand cooperation in all areas of mutual interest. Dar briefed the Italian minister on India's recent escalatory measures and stated that Pakistan strongly condemned India's cowardly action, which was a flagrant violation of the UN Charter, international law, and established norms of inter-state relations. He shared that Pakistan had exercised restraint but India, with its blatant disregard for international law, continued to threaten regional peace. Piantedosi expressed concern at the escalation of the already tense situation and offered condolences for the innocent lives lost in Pakistan. He called for restraint on both sides. Both sides agreed to intensify contacts. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Euronews
12-04-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Med5: Interior ministers call for strengthening of Frontex and agreements with third countries for returns
ADVERTISEMENT The Med5, a two-day meeting of the interior ministers of the five European countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea, ended in the Royal Palace in Naples. Italy, Spain, Greece, Cyprus and Malta were represented, as well as the European Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner and Frontex Executive Director Hans Leijtens. At the end of the summit, the ministers signed a joint declaration. Piantedosi: migrants sent to Albania considered 'dangerous' "We all recognised the need to strengthen Frontex," said Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi during the press conference at the end of the summit, reiterating that "the fight against human traffickers is always a priority". "It is also our intention to work on assisted voluntary returns, a measure that we consider crucial, especially if it is supported by concrete actions to help returnees with their economic and social reintegration in their countries of origin," Piantedosi added. According to the minister, it is a priority for the European Union to maintain an adequate level of funding and to "launch a specific initiative on assisted voluntary returns as soon as possible, in order to take a qualitative leap forward and outline a real common strategy." Responding to a question from journalists on the transfer of irregular migrants to Albania, the minister claimed that these were individuals considered to be dangerous. "Out of the 40 people transported to Albania, there are as many as five cases of convictions for sexual violence, one case of attempted murder, they had previous convictions for weapons, property crimes, theft, resisting a public official, personal injuries," Piantedosi said. "There is a large sample of precedents, which allows us to identify the characterisation of people judged to be dangerous and, as such, subject to detention, as provided for by our law," he added, explaining the reason for handcuffing the immigrants while they disembarked from the ship that arrived in Albania on Friday. "Among the reasons for which these containment measures are put in place is to protect the safety of police officers as well, which as far as I am concerned always remains in first place. Strengthening Frontex and more funding to combat illegal immigration Ministers Matteo Piantedosi (Italy), Nicholas A. Joannides (Deputy Minister Cyprus), Makis Voridis (Greece), Byron Camilleri (Malta) and Fernando Grande-Marlaska Gómez (Spain) reaffirmed in their joint declaration their commitment to develop a common political vision on the most relevant issues of the European migration agenda. They also reaffirmed the importance of the European Pact on Migration and Asylum and committed themselves to its effective implementation, while also calling for immediate and unconditional funding based on needs to support the necessary fulfilment of the Pact's obligations within the current multiannual financial framework. At the same time, they demanded increased allocations for the internal and external dimensions of asylum, migration and border management within the next MFF, in line with the increasingly heavy burdens on frontline Member States and in consideration of the fact that external borders are managed by them for the good of the whole Union. Emphasis on human rights The focus of Member States and European institutions, according to the Med5 ministers, must remain on exploring appropriate innovative solutions to address irregular migration, including new ways to prevent and counter irregular migration, manage asylum and return, in line with EU and international law and ensuring sustainable solutions. "We emphasise that an effective return policy is vital for a well-functioning asylum system and therefore indispensable for the integrity of the European Pact on Migration and Asylum," they said while welcoming the European Commission's efforts to increase the efficiency of the return process by providing member states with common standards for effective return management. "We also call on the European Commission to launch, in the framework of the Global Alliance against Smuggling of Migrants, a specific initiative on assisted voluntary returns from third countries of transit to migrants' countries of origin, including the organisation of an international conference," the ministers added, reiterating that conditions must be created for communities and individuals to live in safety and dignity in their countries. ADVERTISEMENT "The respect of human rights is the most important pillar for us because the respect of these rights is a cornerstone of the values of the European Union," said Spanish minister Grande-Marlaska. Regarding the migrant centres in Albania, he explained that it is necessary to know what the European institutions think.
