Italy Hosts Four-Nation Summit to Forge Legal Migration Pathways and Combat Irregular Flows

Rome Summit Addresses Irregular Migration Challenges

Rome, Italy – On February 26, 2026, Italy hosted a crucial four-nation conference in Rome aimed at developing legal pathways to combat irregular migration. The meeting brought together interior ministers from Italy, Spain, Greece, and Pakistan to forge a coordinated strategy against human smuggling and to expand regulated migration channels.

The high-level discussions saw participation from Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska, Greek Migration Minister Athanasios Plevris, and Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi. The primary objective was to undermine smuggling networks by offering safer, legal alternatives for individuals seeking work and travel opportunities.

Key Agreements and Collaborative Measures

The participating nations endorsed a joint strategy that emphasizes the expansion of legal migration channels. This approach is intended to deter dangerous irregular journeys and dismantle criminal syndicates exploiting migrants. A significant outcome was the agreement on a comprehensive, multi-level strategy to combat illegal migration, human trafficking, and drug smuggling.

Specific measures agreed upon include:

• Enhancing information sharing and operational coordination among the four countries.
• Strengthening a joint rapid response mechanism to ensure immediate and coordinated action.
• Expediting the repatriation of individuals suspected of serious criminal offenses to Pakistan for legal action.
• Pledging European Union support to bolster Pakistan's enforcement capabilities and institutional capacity building.

Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi highlighted a reported 47% reduction in irregular departures from Pakistan, a figure praised by the European partners. Naqvi asserted that 'Only through a joint mechanism can this challenge be overcome.'

Focus on Legal Pathways and Future Cooperation

The meeting also built upon Italy's prior commitment to issue 10,500 work visas for skilled Pakistani workers, a move aimed at promoting legal migration. Discussions explored extending similar schemes to other sectors in Spain and Greece. Furthermore, Pakistan and Greece reached a consensus on signing a long-pending Migration Cooperation Agreement and increasing work visas.

A pilot online matching platform, to be managed by Italy's labor ministry, was also discussed. This platform would list EU vacancies and pre-screen Pakistani candidates for skills and language, streamlining the process for employers and potential migrants. The ministers agreed to hold their next review meeting in Islamabad later in summer 2026 to assess the progress of these initiatives.