The British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak plans a deal with Italy to reduce the number of migrants crossing the Mediterranean and returning them to north Africa, the Telegraph newspaper reported today.

Sunak sent the cabinet secretary and Head of Public Administration Simon Case in mid-June to Italy for two days of meetings with top Italian government officials to work on a deal, the paper said. A government source familiar with the matter confirmed to Reuters that Case was in Italy, without providing further details.

“To tackle illegal immigration successfully, we need to tackle the issue at source, as well as focus on small boats,” a government source said, according to the Telegraph.

The UK and Italy signed up in April Memorandum of Understanding to tackle illegal immigration in the framework of the “Strategic Partnership on Migration”.

“We are working closely with Italy and other European partners to stop illegal immigration and tackle gangs of people smugglers who operate across borders,” a UK government spokesman said. “This is a challenge we share.”

A record 45,000 people arrived in Britain across the Channel last year, mainly from France, according to government data. More than 11,000 have arrived so far this year, according to the government.

One of the top five priorities announced by Sunak, who belongs to the Conservative Party, is to stop these arrivals across the Channel. He has been criticized by some in his own party and by the public for not moving fast enough to crack down on irregular immigration.