Meloni travels to Tunisia for the fourth time in less than a year to address the migration crisis

April 17 (EUROPA PRESS) –

The Prime Minister of Italy, Giorgia Meloni, traveled to Tunisia this Wednesday for the fourth time in less than a year to once again address the migration crisis and cooperation with North African countries to stop the flow of arrivals to the European country.

Meloni, who arrived in Tunisian territory in the morning accompanied by a delegation that includes the Italian Minister of the Interior, Matteo Piantedosi, traveled to the Carthage Palace to meet with the president of the country, Kais Saied, who is at the expects to receive an aid package valued in millions of euros within the framework of the memorandum of understanding reached in July 2023 with the European Union.

However, for months this agreement has served to reduce the migratory flow from the Tunisian coasts to the Italian island of Lampedusa, although in recent weeks there has been an increase in arrivals in Italian territory, according to information from the Italian newspaper 'La Repubblica'.

Sources close to the Italian Government point to the possibility that the Tunisian president will propose a series of measures in exchange for the implementation of the so-called 'Mattei Plan' of the Italian Government. In this sense, three agreements are expected to be signed, one on support to the State of Tunisia in relation to energy efficiency and renewable energies, a loan to small and medium-sized businesses in the country and a memorandum on education.

For Rome, it is vitally important that the Tunisian authorities continue with their actions to combat human trafficking and thus prevent the illegal departures of migrants who end up reaching the Italian coasts, as the Government has repeatedly stated.

Along with Libya, Tunisia is the main departure country for thousands of people trying to cross the Mediterranean to reach Italy. Official figures suggest that this output has suffered a rebound since mid-March.

Meloni is expected to later move to Brussels, where he will discuss with his partners the possibility of finally delivering the 900 million euro package to Tunisia, as initially planned, despite the fact that Saied has not introduced the reforms. necessary for this.