In an unprecedented format, the meeting was held at the Interior Ministry in Rome at the invitation of Minister Piantedosi and brought together Greek Minister for Migration and Asylum Athanasios Plevris, Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska, and Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, described as a "strategic partner in migration dynamics."

According to the Interior Ministry, the meeting stems from a longstanding and well-established dialogue between Rome and Islamabad aimed at sharing a concrete experience that has already delivered tangible operational results and now seeks to provide further input for the development of structured partnerships with other countries of origin.

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An upgrade in terms of the quality of the joint action

During the meeting, the ministers examined how Europe continues to represent a major destination for many Pakistani nationals, underscoring the need for a step change in joint action. The shared priority is to more effectively combat human traffickers and transnational criminal networks, including through a systematic fight against document forgery.

Piantedosi highlighted the value of the ongoing cooperation: "The commitment shown by the Pakistani government towards these objectives, characterised by a 'zero tolerance' approach to illegal immigration, has demonstrated that this model of cooperation works and can be successfully replicated with other key third countries. Europe must act in unity to strike criminal networks, starting precisely with countering document forgery, which is the primary tool used by traffickers to fuel irregular flows."

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Key elements of the new partnership model

The strategy outlined in Rome on February 24 establishes a new partnership model, fully endorsed by all ministers, aimed at making the four key pillars of security and migration management structural.

The plan provides, first and foremost, for a significant improvement in identification procedures to ensure faster and more effective returns, alongside the launch of joint programmes specifically designed to combat forged documents.

At the same time, the delegations agreed to strengthen border controls and enhance operational cooperation among their respective police forces through a regular and systematic exchange of information.

"The format and strategy proposed today open a new season of cooperation," Piantedosi said.

"This was not a one-off meeting, but the beginning of a path that will see the ministers of Italy, Greece, Spain and Pakistan meet again in the coming months to ensure operational continuity of this synergy and to monitor the results of our joint action."

For the Interior Ministry, the meeting "marks a shift in the management of migration routes, placing technical and police cooperation at the heart of the Mediterranean and European strategy."

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PHOTO: The picture shows Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi with his counterparts from Spain, Greece and Pakistan in Rome, February 24, 2026. (PHOTO/INTERIOR MINISTRY) (ANSAmed).