New Italian premier says migration will top Italy's priorities

Issues pertaining to migration and Mediterranean policy will be at the forefront of Italy's priorities under newly appointed Italy prime minister Matteo Renzi, the Italian premier told Prime Minister Joseph Muscat today.  

In the first meeting between the two prime ministers, Renzi argued that the Mediterranean would be considered as the centre of Europe during Italy's presidency of the European Union.

The meeting between Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and his Italian counterpart had been planned for Thursday, but due to internal political issues in Italy, it was postponed to Friday.

Muscat's visit to Palazzo Chigi is the first by a foreign leader following Renzi's appointment as Italy's Prime Minister on Saturday.

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said that Italy, alongside Malta and Greece, should remain united in their pressure on illegal immigration.

"The pressure on migration should be placed on top of the EU's agenda," Muscat said.

"Italy's and Greece's presidency of the European Union serves as the right platform for the issue of illegal migration to be highlighted on a European front," the prime minister insisted.

Muscat and Renzi also discussed energy and international relations.

Both leaders are expected to attend the Party of European Socialists' electoral congress in Rome, where a ten-point roadmap is expected to be endorsed ahead of the European Parliament elections in May.

In July 2013, Muscat had visited Renzi's predecessor Enrico Letta, who was last week forced to resign after 10 months at the helm of a fragile, often-squabbling coalition.

The 39-year-old Renzi forced party rival Letta to resign as prime minister after criticising his government's failure to pass major reforms, opening the way for Italy's third unelected administration in a row.

Renzi, who leads the centre-left Democratic Party, unveiled his government last week and said the broad coalition would bring hope to the economically stagnant country.