Tunisian President Kais Saied met on Wednesday with visiting Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to discuss the issue of illegal immigration and economic cooperation.
During their meeting, Saied reiterated Tunisia’s refusal to be a destination or transit point for illegal immigrants, calling for a joint approach to addressing the problem.
Meloni stressed the need for Italy and Tunisia to collaborate in combating human traffickers and mafia organizations exploiting the aspirations of those seeking better lives.
She expressed gratitude to Tunisian authorities for joint efforts.
The Italian prime minister underscored the “extremely important” strategic relationship with Tunisia, citing it as a top priority for Italy.
She emphasized bilateral and multilateral cooperation, stating that Tunisia should not bear the burden of migrants from other European countries.
The Tunisian authorities have intercepted at least 12,764 migrants in the Mediterranean since the beginning of 2024, most of whom were from sub-Saharan African countries.
The cooperation between Italy and Tunisia in combating human trafficking and managing migration flows is crucial for both countries and has significant implications for Europe as a whole.
