LEADERS of the Group of Seven leading industrialised nations turned their attention to reducing African migration on day two of their summit today.

Italy, which lies on one of the major routes into the European Union for people fleeing war and poverty in Africa, the Middle East and Asia, has prioritised migration during its presidency of the G7.

Far-right Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni has been keen to find ways to reduce African migration to Europe.

Ms Meloni said Italy “wanted to dedicate ample space to another continent that is fundamental to the future of all of us, which is Africa, with its difficulties, its opportunities.”

Italy has reached a controversial five-year deal with neighbouring Albania to host thousands of asylum-seekers while Italy processes their claims. 

More than 22,000 people have arrived in Italy by sea so far in 2024, according to UNHCR figures. More than 157,000 arrived in 2023 – and nearly 2,000 died or went missing while attempting the perilous Mediterranean crossing.

The talks followed an agreement by the gathering, at a luxury resort in Italy’s southern region of Puglia, to provide more financial support for Ukraine in its battle against Russia’s invasion.

On Thursday the G7 agreed to use frozen Russian assets as collateral to raise $50 billion (around £39 billion) in funds to aid Ukraine.

US President Joe Biden hailed the move as proof that the Western allies “were not backing down” over Ukraine.

In response Moscow threatened “extremely painful” retaliatory measures. 

European Central Bank president Christine Lagarde had previously warned that such a move risked “breaking the international order you would want Russia to respect.” 

The summit is also likely to ramp up tensions with China amid further talk of sanctions over China’s industrial policies.