Italian FM Tajani cites data to counter Spanish criticism on migrant entries
Rome, Aug 3
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani on Monday responded to remarks by Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares, who had claimed that Italy recorded the highest number of irregular migrant entries in Europe.
"I do not respond to the Spanish Foreign Minister; the numbers do," Tajani stated on X.
He said irregular migrants in Italy had decreased by 60 per cent annually since 2023, with landings between January and July 2026 dropping by 80 per cent compared to the same period in 2023.
He added that irregular sea arrivals as of July 15 totalled 15,323, down 54 per cent compared to 2025 and 50 per cent compared to 2024.
Tajani attributed the decline to bilateral agreements with eight countries of origin and transit, which he said promoted regular and safe migratory flows and combated human trafficking.
He also noted that the new EU Pact on asylum and migration bore a strong Italian imprint, in line with the tradition of former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's governments.
Albares, speaking to broadcaster RTVE, said Italy had not lived up to expectations in responding to the Ceuta migration crisis.
He described Italy as the country with the highest number of irregular entries in Europe, while Spain had the lowest.
He added that Italy would like to resolve the situation in Lampedusa as Spain had resolved the one in Ceuta.
Albares said at least 50,000 people from Morocco had arrived irregularly in Ceuta between last Thursday and Friday, calling it an "unprecedented event."
He stressed that the repatriation of thousands of people within 48 hours was achieved with the "full collaboration" of Morocco.
Tajani countered by highlighting that among migrants arriving in Ceuta, more than 5,000 were from sub‑Saharan Africa and could not be repatriated or sent back to Morocco.
He said the decision to suspend Schengen, supported by 21 European countries, was in line with EU treaties and the right course of action.
— IANS
Reader Comments
It's interesting to see Italy and Spain pointing fingers at each other over migration. As someone who follows European politics, I think the EU needs a more unified approach instead of this blame game. But Tajani's data-driven rebuttal is quite effective.
While I appreciate the numbers, I feel for the migrants caught in these political battles. We in India know how difficult it is to manage borders - look at the Rohingya situation. But using human lives as political football between EU nations is disheartening. They need more humane policies, not just statistics. 🕊️
The Ceuta situation is alarming - 50,000 people in two days! But Tajani makes a valid point about sub-Saharan migrants being stuck in Ceuta. Not all can be repatriated easily. This is exactly why India advocates for capacity-building in source countries rather than just border policing.
Respectfully, I think Spain's criticism is somewhat unfair. Italy has been dealing with the Mediterranean route for years, and the reduction in numbers shows real progress. The EU Pact bearing "Italian imprint" is actually a positive thing. Maybe Spain should focus on its own Ceuta crisis first, given the massive influx they just experienced.
Politicians will keep arguing, but let's not forget the human side. Migration is driven by poverty, conflict, and climate change - just like India sees from our neighboring countries. The solution has to be long-term development, not just emergency measures. That said, Italy's approach with bilateral agreements seems more pragmatic than Spain's narrative.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.