Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Friday, Apr 26, 2024

Italy, Tunisia vow to fight illegal immigration

Italy and Tunisia have pledged to work together to fight illegal immigration, which should include help for Libya which is the top departure point for migrants trying to reach Europe.
This pledge was made during a meeting in Tunis on Wednesday between Antonio Tajani and Matteo Piantedosi, Italy’s ministers of foreign affairs and interior respectively, with their counterparts Othman Jerandi and Taoufik Charfeddine, and Tunisia’s President Kais Saied.

According to Tajani, Saied agreed that “immigration is not only a matter of security but needs a comprehensive answer from the governments.”

“To solve the problem, we need to intervene at the root, with political actions (on) poverty, terrorism and climate change,” Tajani said during an online press conference attended remotely by Arab News.

A source in the Italian Interior Ministry told Arab News later that Tajani and Piantedosi confirmed to their Tunisian counterparts that Italy “wants to play a primary role in this strategy so that the scourge of immigration, as President Saied called it during the meeting, can be defeated.”

“Only by working together will we be able achieve goals. As Tunisia is committed to do its best to solve any problems, we will do our best because this collaboration at every level can be strengthened and can contribute to the solution of the immigration problem (in the) short, medium and long term,” Tajani added.

According to figures released on Wednesday by the Italian Coast Guard in a hearing in the Chamber of Deputies, in 2022 a total of 32,000 migrants reached Italy from Tunisia, more than 60 percent compared to 2021.

Last year, Tunisia counted as the second port of departure, after Libya, for migrants trying to reach Europe from North Africa. There were almost 105,000 migrants who arrived on Italy’s shores by crossing the Channel of Sicily in 2022.

Tajani added that the stability of Libya was on the meeting’s agenda.

“It is a very important issue for us, and we will always work together with Tunisia for border security, to solve the immigration problem, also through political agreements in order to reduce the migratory flows from Libya to Tunisia.”

“Even on Libya, Italy and Tunisia are in harmony. We will work together, improving and making even more efforts to solve all the problems we are facing,” Tajani said.

Tajani confirmed Italy’s commitment to continue increasing investments in Tunisia. A business forum will be held on this issue in the next few months.

A further bilateral cooperation in energy, which has benefited from the recent launch of the ELMED strategic infrastructure — a maritime electricity interconnection project between the two shores of the Mediterranean — was also discussed.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Reports in Gaza: 5 dead from the impact of aid packages dropped by the USA
Apple warns against drying iPhones with rice
China Criticizes US for Vetoing UN Ceasefire Resolution in Gaza
In a recent High Court hearing, the U.S. argued that Julian Assange endangered lives by releasing classified information.
The U.S. vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution calling for a temporary ceasefire in Gaza, instead proposing its own six-week ceasefire plan contingent upon the release of all hostages held by Hamas
Prince William Urges End to Gaza Conflict
Saudi Arabia ranks first in UN index for e-government services in MENA
Israel has gone ‘beyond self-defence’ in Gaza, says Labour’s Streeting
EU Calls for Immediate Ceasefire in Gaza Conflict
Israel Records 20% Drop In GDP, War In Gaza Is The Reason
Saudi Arabia's FDI Inflows Grow with New International Standards
Venture Capitals Power Up Across MENA Region
Saudi Arabia Introduces Terms for 30-Year Income Tax Exemption for Multinational Companies
Saudi FM: Establishing Palestinian state is only pathway for Mideast stability
Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny has died at the Arctic prison colony
Elon Musk's Starlink Gets License For Israel, Parts Of Gaza
Influencers Exploit X Platform for Profit Amidst Israel-Gaza Conflict
PM Modi Announces Opening Of New CBSE Office In Dubai
International Criminal Court's Chief "Deeply Concerned" By Rafah Bombing
January Funding for MENA Startups Totals $86.5 Million
Saudi Arabia accelerates digital economy growth through Nvidia partnership
Indian female military officers commend Saudi Arabia's progress and women's empowerment
Israel unveils tunnels underneath Gaza City headquarters of UN agency for Palestinian refugees
Israel deploys new military AI in Gaza war
Egypt threatens to suspend key peace treaty if Israel pushes into Gaza border town, officials say
Israel Utilizes AI Military Technology in Gaza Conflict
Saudi Arabia Warns Of A "Humanitarian Catastrophe" If Israel Moves On Rafah
China Warns Iran to Halt Houthi Attacks or Damage Trade Ties
US University To Shut Qatar Campus Due To "Heightened Mideast Instability"
Iran-backed hackers interrupt UAE TV streaming services with deepfake news
Facebook and Instagram Ban Iran's Supreme Leader
Finnish Airline, Finnair, is voluntarily weighing passengers to better estimate flight cargo weight
U.S. Secretary of State Blinken: The Israelis underwent dehumanization on 7.10, this does not give them the right to do this to others.
Defense Technology Showcase Held in Riyadh
Saudi Arabia’s non-oil exports rise 2.5% to $6bn in November 2023: GASTAT
UK Bans Misleading "Zero Emissions" Claims for Electric Cars
Gaza's Teen Inventor Sparks Light in Displacement
Netanyahu Rejects Ceasefire Proposal, Insists On Total Victory Over Hamas
Guterres appoints independent UNRWA review panel
Private Sector Employment Hits Record High with Over 11 Million Employees in January
Rolls-Royce Executive Encourages Saudi Women to Tap into Their Inner 'Superhero' for Success in Defense Industry
Saudi Arabia launches National Academy of Vehicles and Cars
Saudi Tourism Minister Reveals Plan for 250,000 New Hotel Rooms by 2030
SAR to more than double eastern network passenger capacity with new trains deal
Saudi Arabia Enhances National Defense with New Partnerships
Saudi Aramco Maintains Arab Light Crude Pricing to Asia for March
NEOM Establishes New York Office to Support Investors
Saudi Wealth Fund Draws in Over $25 Billion Worth of Investments in Three Years, Al-Rumayyan Reveals
ZATCA Cautions Against Scammer Schemes
INTRA Defense Technologies inaugurates drone factory in Riyadh
×