During the G7 Presidency, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has committed to dialogue with Africa. A large proportion of migrants arriving in Italy – irregularly – come from there.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's traditional end-of-year conference has turned into the start of the year this time. Meloni, head of the right-wing nationalist party Fratelli d'Italia, had to postpone the nomination twice due to persistent illness. It finally happened on Thursday afternoon — and the new timing seemed fitting, as Meloni gave a glimpse into the new year, which will be crucial for him.

Meloni has a lot at stake in 2024, especially in terms of foreign policy, he underlined during the reception: Italy “faces a very complicated year with important dates, above all the elections for the European Parliament and the Italian presidency. G7,” said Meloni. At the beginning of the year, Italy G7 Taking over the leadership of the group, in which the most important industrialized nations, with the United States, Japan, Canada, Germany, Great Britain, France, Italy and the European Union as observers, meet to coordinate their common agenda.

Against the “predatory behavior” of Europe in the past

A meeting of government leaders will be held in the southern Italian region of Apulia in mid-June. Meloni plans to use the forum for himself: as a host, he wants to further expand his image as an internationally trusted head of government, which he built after his election victory in September 2022. At the same time, he wants to direct the conversation to a more pressing issue at home: migration from Africa to Italy and his plans to reduce it.

» To prevent illegal immigration, you must show signs of legal immigration. «

Georgia Meloney,

The head of the Italian government

Africa will be a priority during Italy's G7 presidency, he said on Thursday. This is because Europe still does not sufficiently understand what dynamics are currently taking place on the continent, between resource enrichment and destabilization processes.