Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced on Sunday that she would step down as president of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group in the European Parliament.
Meloni explained during her closing speech at the traditional Atreju political festival in Rome, organized by her party, Brothers of Italy (FdI), that she had initially agreed to extend her mandate until the European Parliament elections. However, she now believes she has fulfilled her duty, adding that the group “deserves to have a president who can dedicate themselves fully to it.”
Meloni emphasized the stability of Italy’s right-wing coalition government, formed in October 2022, and noted that 2025 would be a crucial year for implementing key reforms.
While reaffirming her commitment to the ECR, Meloni expressed confidence in the group’s future, announcing that the nomination process would begin and suggesting that her friend, former Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, could be a candidate.
Meloni also highlighted the significant growth of the ECR in recent months, attributing it to their shared successes.
Irregular Migration and Migrant Centers in Albania
In her speech, Meloni discussed the issue of irregular migration and the agreement signed with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama on November 6, 2023. This agreement involves transferring irregular migrants to two centers established by Italy in Albania as part of efforts to combat illegal migration.
Meloni reaffirmed Italy’s commitment to fighting illegal migration and human traffickers. She acknowledged setbacks, such as a court decision in Rome suspending the first two migrant transfers and temporarily halting operations at the centers. However, she vowed to overcome these legal challenges and continue the fight against human trafficking and illegal migration.
She called the centers in Albania a “deterrent” and pledged that they would “work, even if I have to be there every night until the end of my government’s mandate.”
Meloni also reiterated her commitment to fighting the mafia, urging the entire Italian state and all honest people to join her in this effort, stating, “I am an honest person, not an enemy.”
