Matteo Piantedosi, the Italian Interior Minister, stated that since the beginning of the year, Tunisia has blocked over 30,000 irregular migrants from reaching Italy. He further lauded Tunisia’s rigorous battle against human traffickers, praising the “fruitful cooperation” with Tunisia in halting irregular migrants who embark from its coasts aiming to reach the Italian islands.
Piantedosi remarked, “This has led to the inception of a productive partnership not only with Italy but also with the European Union. Tunisia is an essential partner, and we must collaborate more effectively with it.”
He added that his country is grappling with historic pressures concerning irregular migration, noting that this year’s number of newcomers has doubled compared to the same period in 2022.
According to data from the Italian Interior Ministry, approximately 92,000 migrants arrived on Italian shores this year up to the 4th of this month. A significant portion of these migrants are from Tunisia and Sub-Saharan African countries.
The coasts of Tunisia’s Sfax province, which is about 170 kilometers from the closest Italian territory, serve as a primary transit point for migrants.
The Italian Interior Minister stated, “It’s evident that our objective is to prevent departures, a goal that can only be achieved through medium and long-term initiatives. However, this leads to stable and lasting solutions.”
Supported substantially by Rome, Tunisia inked a memorandum of understanding with the European Union last July to combat illicit sea migration in exchange for financial, economic assistance, and multiple incentives.
