The protection of the European Union's external borders, the fight against illegal migration, hybrid threats, including the instrumentalisation of migration, as well as the European Union's migration and asylum policy including return policy were the main topics of today's meeting.

Counteracting illegal migration 

The Monday meeting in Warsaw allowed for a rapprochement of positions in the area of counteracting illegal migration. It was emphasised that this topic is an area where both Poland and Italy see potential for further cooperation. ‘We have discussed a wide range of migration-related issues. The fight against illegal migration is the top priority of our presidency in the area of home affairs,’ said Minister Tomasz Siemoniak.

Italy, like Poland, is a country whose external border is the border of the Schengen Area and also faces serious migration challenges, experiencing the problem of illegal migration. ‘We talked about the situation in Italy in the context of North Africa and the Mediterranean. We are supporting Italy's various activities and new solutions to solve migration problems. We are united in our fear of the instrumentalisation of migration,’ stressed the head of the Ministry of the Interior and Administration and the coordinator of the special services.

During today's meeting, the situation at the Polish-Belarusian was also discussed. It is worth recalling that the functioning of the buffer zone on the border with Belarus has been extended for another 90 days. The new regulation came into force today, Monday 10 March. ‘The Minister was interested in the development of the situation and our activities. We have presented extensive information in this area,’ Minister Tomasz Siemoniak pointed out.

The head of the Ministry of the Interior and Administration emphasised that Poland and Italy are linked by traditional and historical ties of friendship. He expressed his belief that both countries should establish closer cooperation and deepen their existing dialogue.

Matteo Piantedosi, Minister of the Interior of the Republic of Italy, spoke about international cooperation. ‘We share the view that to combat illegal migration the new solutions should be found at the European Union level. We are facing pressure at the borders, which are the EU's external borders,’ he pointed out.

Fight against international crime

Minister Tomasz Siemoniak said that cooperation with Italian law enforcement agencies is of great importance from the point of view of the strategic activities of the Polish Police, both bilaterally, regionally and also because of cooperation within the European Union. He also added that our priority is to strengthen cooperation in the fight against organised crime and other particularly dangerous crimes.

‘We see a great potential in the joint fight against international organised crime. These are crime areas related to human, arms and drug trafficking. The police services in Poland and Italy have the green light for the closest possible cooperation,' he said. ‘During the Polish presidency, we will also focus on strengthening Europol and other EU agencies in the fight against crime,’ added the head of the Polish Ministry of the Interior and Administration.

International cooperation between Poland and Italy 

Minister Tomasz Siemoniak stated that he and Minister Matteo Piantedosi also discussed cooperation within the European Union. ‘We agreed to work closely together on a joint approach to various EU documents that we are expecting in the near future. I am thinking about the European Commission's forthcoming proposal for new return legislation and the Internal Security Strategy. We would like these to be ambitious documents that set common goals high,' he said.

In turn, the Minister of the Interior of the Republic of Italy said that today's meeting is an important step to strengthen cooperation between our two countries. ‘The strong position of the government in Poland and Italy is very important and we have a responsibility here to extend our cooperation, our position, our visions to the level of the European Union,’ he pointed out.

During today's meeting, the Polish and Italian Ministers of the Interior also discussed the situation in Ukraine and cooperation with the United States.