Root Causes of Migration Have to Be Addressed in Africa

Although there are variations, the priorities of conservatives are very similar around the world, Guglielmo Picchi, Italy's former deputy foreign minister and Lega Party MP, pointed out in an interview for Magyar Nemzet. According to the Italian politician, migration can be stopped by eliminating the root causes, but this requires close cooperation with African countries.

Guglielmo Picchi at CPAC Hungary (Photo: Arpad Kurucz)

Stopping illegal migration is a key conservative priority, and you have addressed this issue in detail as deputy foreign minister. How do you see the current migration situation?

It is simple: if we do not fight the root causes of migration, the battle is lost. There will always be yet another boat full of migrants taking advantage of international law. Italy proposes that we turn to Africa, not as colonizers, but as friends and partners, and try to work with Africans to develop their economies. If we create good living conditions in Africa, migrants will not come here.

Illegal immigrants from Africa disembark a patrol boat of the Spanish Maritime Rescue Service in the port of Motril in Granada, Spain on April 16, 2024 (Photo: MTI/EPA/EFE/Alba Feixas)

No one feels good about leaving their country. If we can tackle the problems in sub-Saharan countries, with development programs, education, and agricultural cooperation, we can solve the problem of migration at a fraction of the cost and spend our time and energy on eradicating the problems of our own people.

You live in Britain. What do you think of the British government's agreement with Rwanda to tackle the migration problem?

Ambitious, but not easy to implement. I am optimistic, let's see if it is feasible. Italy has a similar agreement with Albania, although it is a little more difficult because of the constraints of the European Union. But this concept has already been used by Australia when it deported migrants to the island of Nauru. Another aspect of the issue is that while mainly women and children are arriving from Ukraine, that's not the case for arrivals from Africa, Bangladesh and Pakistan. Tens of thousands are coming from Bangladesh, which is in fact a safe country. It is a democracy, there are elections, there is a constitution, a functioning parliament, yet we do not send back people from there.
 

All things considered, the root causes of migration need to be addressed foremost in Africa. Tougher regulations are also needed at the European level, and for this the Hungarian government's stand is crucial. But I am optimistic that we can eventually tackle the problem.

Cover photo: Guglielmo Picchi at CPAC Hungary (Photo: Arpad Kurucz)