Italy aims to control immigration narrative with data

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is preparing to counter opposition narratives on security and immigration, aiming to align public perception with official data. While citizens perceive security as an emergency, tourists consider Italy the safest destination in Europe. Meloni's government faces criticism from both the left, advocating for open borders, and the right, pushing for unrealistic remigration projects.

Government meetings at Palazzo Chigi are focused on refining responses to perceived shortcomings. The Prime Minister intends to use data to debunk "false narratives" surrounding immigration. Official figures reveal a substantial decrease in migrant arrivals, with landings in the first half of 2026 falling by half compared to the same period in 2025, dropping from 26,000 to 12,000. This contrasts sharply with peak years that saw over 150,000 arrivals.

This reduction is partly attributed to agreements with Libya and Tunisia, which have facilitated the repatriation of 200,000 individuals before they reached Italy. Concurrently, repatriations from Italy have increased, with approximately 4,000 individuals returned between January and May. The government's objective is to bring migrant arrivals below the 30,000 threshold in 2026, while simultaneously repatriating 10,000 individuals.

Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi stated that this approach would convey the perception that the phenomenon is being managed, not passively endured as in the past. He alluded to previous center-left governments that allegedly bartered immigration management for greater flexibility in public finances with Europe. Meloni is emphasizing the government's efforts in Brussels to achieve a more restrictive stance on immigration, overcoming initial resistance from France and Germany to secure a new pact on Asylum and Migration.

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si darebbe l’esatta percezione che il fenomeno si governa e non si subisce come in altri tempi.