Messages from Sunak to Italy to Stop Migration Across the Mediterranean

The Telegraph reported on Friday that British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak intends to make a joint agreement with Italy to stop the flow of migrants across the Mediterranean and return them to North Africa. The newspaper stated that Sunak sent the Cabinet Secretary and head of the civil service, Simon Case, to Italy in mid-June for two days of meetings with senior Italian government officials to work on the agreement. A government source confirmed to Reuters that Case was in Italy without providing further details. The newspaper quoted a government source stating, "If we want to succeed in addressing the issue of irregular migration, we must tackle it at the source and also focus on small boats." A spokesperson for the British government said, "We are working closely with Italy and other European partners to stop illegal migration and tackle the human trafficking gangs operating across borders. This is a shared challenge." According to government statistics, the UK recorded a record 45,000 people arriving on its shores in small boats across the English Channel last year, most of whom were from France. The government indicated that more than 11,000 have entered its territory since the beginning of this year. The UK and Italy signed a memorandum of understanding in April to tackle irregular migration as part of a "strategic migration partnership."