By Thanasis Gavou

Lessons from the Italian government’s policy which has led to a 60% drop in irregular migrant arrivals in the past year UK Prime Minister Sir hopes to learn Keir Starmerwho will meet today in Rome with his counterpart Georgia Meloni.

The British leader said before his departure for the Italian capital on Sunday that “interested” in Italy’s agreement with Albania to send asylum-seeking migrants to the Balkan country so that the application process can be processed there.

“We’ll see. It’s early. I’m interested in how it works, I think everyone is,” commented Sir Keir, who however, it faces backlash from the left wing of the Labor Party.

Dissenters liken Italy’s deal with Albania to the UK Conservative government’s deal with Rwanda to immediately send illegal immigrants there.

The deal with the African country was scrapped by Keir Starmer soon after he took office, as he dismissed it as an “expensive gimmick” that breached the UK’s international obligations.

Government officials note that the Italy-Albania agreement provides that if an asylum application is accepted, then the applicant will be able to return to Italy. Instead, the British deal with Rwanda stipulated that those who saw their asylum claim approved would be barred from returning to the UK and would have to set up their lives in the African country.

Also, UK immigration secretary Yvette Cooper said the Italian deal provides for fast-track asylum procedures for migrants from safe countries, as well as oversight by the United Nations refugee agency.

However, Mrs. Cooper added that “for now” the government is not considering any agreement with Albania.

Mr Starmer will hold a joint press conference with Ms Meloni after their meeting this afternoon.