In a press conference held in Valletta as part of the Euro-Med 9 summit, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni underlined the necessity of rekindling Italy’s partnership with Tunisia.
She characterized Tunisia as signaling positive developments, which could serve as a model for engagements with North African nations.
During a trilateral meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, held on the sidelines of the Med9 conference in Malta, Meloni conveyed Italy’s commitment to conducting a maritime mission in the Mediterranean.
This mission would be in cooperation with North African authorities to address the migration issue.
Earlier, Meloni also highlighted that the third phase of the European Sophia mission in the Mediterranean, aimed at rescuing migrants in danger of drowning, has never been implemented.
This decision stemmed from the realization that the first phase of the mission acted as an incentive for migrants and was subsequently canceled.
Italy’s Prime Minister emphasized the collective willingness to approach the migrant issue earnestly.
She pointed out that the approach was already in place, and there was a sense of consensus among the involved countries, all of which shared concerns about this matter.
Meloni’s call for strengthening cooperation with Tunisia underscores Italy’s dedication to tackling migration challenges in the Mediterranean region.
