Italian Prime Minister visits Tunisia to seek solutions on migration

On April 17, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni met with Tunisian officials in the North African country's capital Tunis to discuss a "new approach" to irregular migration and bilateral economic cooperation.

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A group of migrants believed to be from Tunisia on wooden boats wait for assistance about 20 miles southwest of the Italian island of Lampedusa. (Source: AP)

Prime Minister Meloni held talks with Tunisian President Kais Saied, who said at a national security meeting a day earlier that the North African country "will not be a hub" for sub-Saharan migrants, ABC News reported.

The fight against irregular migration requires development and investment from African countries and “Italy will continue to try to promote the new approach that it is promoting at the European level,” Ms. Meloni said.

The two sides signed three agreements, including a 50 million euro aid package for energy projects, credit for small and medium-sized enterprises and a university cooperation agreement.

Prime Minister Meloni also said that Italy will encourage regular migration by granting 12,000 residence permits to Tunisians trained in specific fields.

Ms Meloni's visit is part of the Mattei Plan, a programme aimed at affirming Italy as an important bridge between Africa and Europe.

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