Meloni addresses the issue of migratory flows with the Austrian chancellor: "we need to have the courage for a completely new approach"

Meloni addresses the issue of migratory flows with the Austrian chancellor: "we need to have the courage for a completely new approach"

“It is thanks to our collaboration that Europe's paradigm on the relationship with illegal migratory flows has changed. A paradigm shift has been made, now a further step must be taken concretely towards solutions to address this matter, and it will be the subject of the next European Council. The chancellor and I have talked about it, we count on each other." The prime minister said, Giorgia Meloni, in joint declarations with the Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer, after the bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Europa Forum Wachau.

“When it comes to migration, we need to have the courage to take a completely new approach. We have lived a long time in which those who asked to govern illegal migratory flows were considered inhuman or racist. And those who favored the phenomenon were considered human and supportive. But is it really humane to leave the field open to unscrupulous traffickers, who charge 9 thousand euros for a journey of hope that causes thousands of deaths in the Mediterranean? Is it humane to let smugglers decide who can or cannot get to Europe, based on how much money they have? Is it human to argue among ourselves about who should take care of these people? Is it humane to leave these people on the outskirts of our metropolises to deal drugs or in the hands of organized crime?” said Meloni, at the Europa Forum Wachau, in Lower Austria.

“It is humane to do development cooperation, humane is that if you have the right to come to Europe, you do not have to pay smugglers. And we must distinguish refugees from economic migrants, two different subjects. Working with countries of departure and transit, training people who can arrive in Europe, giving them a dignified life", added the prime minister.

“There is intense discussion between us on many important European dossiers, such as the reform of economic governance: the Italian position is that the investments necessary for the green transition and the digital transition must be taken into account” Meloni said.

And on the situation in Russia he added: “We are following developments on what is happening in the last few hours. There is awareness of a situation of chaos within the Russian Federation which clashes a bit with certain propaganda seen in recent months". “These are events of the last few hours, it is not easy to say exactly what is happening: I also take this opportunity to announce to the press that, once this appointment which I did not want to miss is over, I have summoned the competent ministers and the Italian intelligence to obtain more information. I can't make any predictions about how things might go."