The government is planning to "improve" an agreement between Italy and Libya on migration, with a focus on improving conditions at the North African country's migrant detention centres, Italy's foreign minister Luigi Di Maio said on Wednesday.
"The government intends to improve the content of the memorandum of understanding with Libya on managing migrant flows and the fight against illegal immigration, giving special attention to the condition of migrant centres," Di Maio told lawmakers during question-time.
Pulling out of the MoU, which is set to be automatically renewed at the weekend unless one of the parties opts out, would cause "political injury", Di Maio said.
"There is scope to amend and improve the document but it is undeniable that it has reduced the number of arrivals and deaths at sea by strengthening the operational capacities of Libya's authorities", he added.
The MoU signed in February 2017 agreed that Italy would work with Libya’s military and border control forces "to stem the influx of illegal migrants”, thereby preventing migrants from reaching Europe. The Italian strategy was part of a broader European approach that was swiftly endorsed by European leaders.
Under the accord, the Italian government and the European Union have given the Libyan coast guard boats, training and other assistance to patrol the Mediterranean and pull back tens of thousands of refugees and migrants hoping to reach Europe by boat.
The agreement has been criticised by human rights groups, the Catholic Church and UN who say returned migrants face torture in lawless Libya.
