The European Union must take action to stop migration at the source, rather than focusing on sharing out the migrants who get to Europe, Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni said Monday after meeting Latvian Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins in Riga.
"We agreed on the issue of migration," Meloni said after the meeting, on the eve of the NATO summit in Vilnius.
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"Latvia has EU external borders (like Italy).
"(It's necessary) to think about primary movements instead of discussing secondary ones. It's easier.
"In order to be addressed in a unanimous way, migration must be managed at the origin.
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"We are diverse nations. Working together to stop illegal immigration, giving equal rights to those who come to live in our countries when the (migrant) flows are managed, is the best way to address this issue".
She said that after the meeting she would visit a camp where 270 Italian troops are working within the framework of the NATO Enhanced Forward Presence mission.
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"This demonstrates not only the attention that Italy pays to our allies who are on the border, but also how much we believe that, in terms of defence and security, we must be particularly attentive, focused and lucid at this time," she said.