Maran (PD): “Nobody wants uncontrolled immigration, but Frederiksen is spreading propaganda about migrants just like Meloni”

Rome. “Even amongst us progressives, no one is in favour of open doors – let alone wide-open doors – to illegal immigration. We, too, want the issue to be regulated and not left in the hands of traffickers, but the Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, alongside Meloni, is merely engaging in propaganda for domestic political reasons.” Pierfrancesco Maran, an MEP from the reformist wing of the PD (Milan faction) – where he served as a city councillor first under Pisapia and then under Beppe Sala – condemns the Danish socialist Prime Minister’s decision to champion, alongside the Italian Prime Minister, a hard line on immigration in Europe. This alliance was also celebrated two days ago with a sort of point-by-point manifesto shared on the social media profiles of both heads of government. And yesterday it was once again in the crosshairs of the Spanish government, which once more attacked Italy: “It is exploiting the crisis in Ceuta for electoral gain.”

Is the socialist Frederiksen doing the same? Doesn’t the Danish Prime Minister put our own socialists in an awkward position? Maran, are you being too soft on immigration? “First of all,” replies the MEP, “we mustn’t forget that on immigration, as on other important issues, there is a divide in Europe between northern countries and Mediterranean countries that transcends the traditional divisions between right and left. Denmark does not have a problem with migrants arriving directly on its shores, but rather the problem of ensuring that the countries of first arrival take these people back. This is a position similar to that of German Chancellor Merz, who is currently asking Italy to take back migrants who arrived here but were found in Germany. The same could soon happen with Denmark – so much for the Meloni-Frederiksen friendship.”

In the meantime, however, the two are joining forces. “And they’re doing it for reasons of domestic propaganda,” replies Maran. “It suits Frederiksen to show the Danes that her stance on immigration is no different from that of a European right-wing leader, whilst for Meloni, this alliance is useful – even more so after the Sánchez affair – to avoid appearing isolated in Europe. Their objectives, however, are very different.” Both, however, say: no to uncontrolled immigration. “Come on, who would say yes?”, asks Maran, not without a touch of irony. “The problem is how to actually achieve this objective because today, words aside, irregular migrants continue to arrive, regardless of the political colour of the government in power. And hubs in third countries are certainly not the solution.” So what is the solution, then? “Over the last two years, for example, funding for Frontex – the European Union’s border police agency – has been significantly increased, which has made it possible to substantially reduce flows along the Balkan route. But border control measures are not a definitive solution. The real key lies in agreements with countries of origin. It must be said,” adds Maran, “that this effectively gives external states the power to open up migration flows when there is a political issue to highlight. As happened in Ceuta, with Morocco wanting to send a message to Spain following Sánchez’s visit to Algeria. This is what is known as ‘weaponised migration’: it happens in the Balkans, in Belarus and also in Morocco and Libya.”

In the meantime, however, Frederiksen and Meloni are sending a simple message: out with those who commit crimes, out with those who do not integrate and do not respect European laws. “Even in this case, who could possibly oppose this principle? But to establish that someone has committed a crime, a trial is required. Then, once convicted, a migrant can be deported. Yet, in both right-wing and left-wing governments, this does not always happen because there are technical issues with the countries of origin. Meloni and Frederiksen do not offer solutions; they merely highlight the problem for propaganda purposes. To ensure that those arriving do not commit crimes,” continues the PD MEP, “we need to integrate them: send children and young people to school, and provide them with services and rights. Illegal immigration, on the other hand, is the gateway to the negative effects of immigration that the two prime ministers are talking about. This is why making it easier to obtain a residence permit or citizenship is actually more effective in combating illegality. “Nobody wants irregular immigration, but given how difficult it is to repatriate people if there are no agreements with their countries of origin, are we sure that not offering integration pathways even to those who have entered irregularly is the right approach?”