The Mattei Plan proposed by Italy's Meloni government should be adopted at the EU level, UNHCR chief Filippo Grandi said in an interview published in Italian by the Corriere della Sera newspaper on July 15.

"Italy cannot do it alone," he was quoted as saying, adding that while Europe invests in control mechanisms, "this alone will not stabilize" migrant flows.

Grandi stressed that there is the need to instead invest in migrant reception and integration as well as "invest in opportunities for these people along [migration] routes".

"Many would not continue onwards if along the road they were to find these opportunities," he said.

The Mattei Plan aims to strengthen Italy's relationship with Africa through economic cooperation, energy partnerships, and curbing irregular migration.

'Excellent management of Lampedusa hotspot'

Grandi said that he had been on Lampedusa during his official visit and that he had been impressed by the "excellent management of the hotspot, which has been entrusted to the Red Cross. I told this to [Interior] Minister Piantedosi, saying that I hoped it would serve as an example for other centers in Italy."

"During the visit, I also noted that the sea rescue mechanism partially functions but that the number of deaths is still very high: 500 in 2025 on this [Mediterranean] route," he added.

"This can be avoided only by a true EU rescue system that is robust and coordinated."

On the keeping of the distinction between refugees and economic migrants, in Grandi's eyes, "it is possible to do this with the right systems."

"It is true that economic migrants often abuse the asylum system. However, if we want to lighten the pressure on the latter, we need to work on the migration one. The [Italian] migration flows decree is a good thing: it establishes an annual migration quota that enables people to move through regular channels and not only asylum ones."

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'Difficult to confirm Tunisia as safe third country'

Grandi also spoke about North Africa, calling the situation of the region "critical".

"Libya is once again more unstable, the balance between the various tribes and factions is fragile," he said. "Our apprehension and that of other observers present is rising."

He went on to underscore that "the general stance is hardening against refugees and migrants. It has become more difficult to secure access and get them out of detention centers. Experience tells us that, in moments like these, power is more disrupted and difficulties rise."

One of the difficult situations in the area is that of Tunisia, "with which in the past we worked well, even when it was hit by serious [migrant] flows. The hardening of stances is, however, even stronger there than in Libya. They are afraid of becoming a country of migration and thus have cracked down. They no longer allow us to register asylum seekers. We have irregular access to those in need. There have also been pushbacks towards Libya and Algeria."

"It is difficult," he said, "to support the notion of Tunisia as a 'safe third country'."

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