After the International Conference on Development and Migration in Italy, more than 20 countries in the Mediterranean, Middle East, and Africa agreed to establish a Fund to Support Development Projects to prevent illegal migration.
Mediterranean, Middle Eastern and African countries agreed on July 23 to find ways to reduce illegal migration and address the pressures that drive people to leave their homes and seek passage to Europe.
After a one-day International Conference on Migration and Development in Rome chaired by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, participants pledged to prevent human trafficking, enhance cooperation in areas such as renewable energy to respond to climate change, and improve the development prospects of poorer countries.
Representatives of more than 20 countries agreed to set up a Fund to Support Development Projects, which Prime Minister Meloni called the "Rome Process."
Prime Minister Meloni said the Italian government under her leadership is ready to accept legal migrants because "Europe and Italy need immigrants," but countries need to work together to prevent illegal migration across the dangerous Mediterranean route.
“Stopping human trafficking networks is a goal we all share,” she stressed.
Notably, at the conference, President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan announced that the UAE pledged to support 100 million USD for development projects in countries affected by illegal immigration.
Prime Minister Meloni welcomed the UAE's decision and said a donors' conference would be held in the near future.
On the same day, speaking in St. Peter's Square, Pope Francis called on European and African governments to assist migrants stranded in the deserts of North Africa, as well as ensure that the Mediterranean is no longer a "death zone" for migrants trying to cross this dangerous sea route.
Italy is struggling to deal with illegal migrants landing in remote places like the southern island of Lampedusa. But the country is also experiencing a shrinking and aging population, which requires workers to meet the needs of economic development.
Earlier this month, Italy pledged to issue 452,000 new work visas to non-EU citizens between 2023 and 2025, while increasing the number of work permits per year to a peak of 165,000 by 2025.
Previously, in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, Italy only issued 30,850 new visas. The number of migrants arriving in Italy has increased sharply, with more than 83,000 people since the beginning of the year, compared to about 34,000 people in the same period last year./.
Mai Nguyen (Vietnam News Agency/Vietnam+)
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