Pakistan, three EU states agree on legal pathways to tackle illegal migration

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and three European countries — Italy, Spain and Greece — on Thursday reached a consensus to promote regulated legal pathways as part of a coordinated strategy to effectively combat illegal migration, human smuggling and narcotics trafficking.

The agreement was reached during a four-nation conference held in Rome, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said in a post on X, describing the meeting as productive and forward-looking.

“Pakistan, Italy, Spain and Greece agreed on a coordinated strategy against illegal migration, human smuggling and narcotics, including a joint policy framework and rapid-response mechanism,” Naqvi stated, adding that consensus was also achieved on promoting legal migration channels and repatriating criminals to face legal proceedings.

According to a statement issued by the interior ministry, the European side endorsed Pakistan’s proposal to create regulated legal avenues for migration as a means to dismantle human smuggling networks and discourage perilous irregular journeys.

Italy’s Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, Spain’s Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska and Greece’s Migration Minister Athanasios Plevris agreed that establishing structured and transparent migration channels was the most effective way to counter criminal syndicates exploiting migrants.

The four ministers finalised a joint policy framework aimed at strengthening cooperation at all levels to address illegal migration, human smuggling and narcotics trafficking. They also agreed to enhance coordination through a joint and rapid-response mechanism.

The interior ministry statement said the participants decided that individuals involved in serious offences would be repatriated from Europe to Pakistan to face legal action. The European partners also agreed to extend full support to Pakistan for capacity building through European Union-backed initiatives.

Naqvi told his counterparts that mafias involved in illegal migration had been brought to justice in Pakistan, stressing that Europe remained one of the most affected regions by irregular migration and that closer coordination could effectively address the challenge.

The three European ministers appreciated Pakistan’s efforts in curbing illegal migration, noting a reported 47 per cent reduction in such cases. The Italian minister was quoted as saying that Pakistani institutions had taken “excellent steps” in this regard, while the Spanish minister commended the “exemplary actions” undertaken under Naqvi’s leadership.

The participants also agreed to hold the next round of talks in Pakistan later this year to review progress and further strengthen collaboration.