"Our aim is not -- and could not be -- to eliminate migration, but to govern it and in so doing make it orderly, legal, and sustainable for everyone involved," said Italian interior minister Matteo Piantedosi in a video call with the annual forum of the Fondazione Iniziativa Europa. The forum was held in the town of Stresa on the shores of Lake Maggiore, between the northern regions of Piedmont and Lombardy, on November 21 and 22.

This year's theme was "Lo Tsunami d'Oltreoceano, Discontinuità e Scenari d'Occidente" ("The Tsunami from Overseas, Discontinuity, and Scenarios from the West"). According to its website, the Fondazione Iniziativa Europa promotes -- in part through constructive dialogue between institutions and civil society -- political culture and philosophy as well as research, training, and debate on political, economic, legal, and social issues.

Read Also'Train migrants before departures' – Italian Interior Minister

'We seek innovative models for relations with third countries'

"In order to deal with the complexity of migratory dynamics, we have sought innovative models for relations with third countries, based on a structured approach within the most relevant geographical frameworks," Piantedosi said.

"In my opinion, it would be short-sighted to think of lightning migratory pressure on Italy without taking into consideration the situation of other countries, since what is needed and what we want is a regional reduction in illegal flows. It is for this, for example, that we have created close collaboration at the technical and political level with countries like Libya, Tunisia, and Algeria. We did this to manage migration flows," he underscored.

Read AlsoItalian government says Italy a 'role model' on migration

'Unregulated migration creates space for criminality'

"Uncontrolled migration flows create space for criminal actions as well as -- where there is no adequate security framework -- illicit trafficking, starting with migrant smuggling," Piantedosi said.

He added: "Simply analysing any of the several migration routes shows how strong this link is. Migration flows are the result of wars, instability, climate change, and economic disparity. And Italy, which is the natural crossroads of the Mediterranean, is in a position that makes it especially exposed to - and central to - the creation of solutions."

"To deal with a similar dynamic, an approach focused on an individual country or individual criminal actor is not enough," he stressed.

"I think there is the need, on the contrary, for a strategy able to attack the business of traffickers in a direct way along the entire migration route and with interventions along the entire criminal chain in its various branches and manifestations."

"This," he added, "is the reason why blocking a geographical hub of illegal immigration can end up being useless, simply shifting the route, if action is not taken in a broader sphere of a regional nature."

Read AlsoEU draws the lines on upcoming migration 'solidarity pool' and how it will be implemented