Italy is working on a “Pnrr model” for European funds for Tunisia

Given the stalemate between the International Monetary Fund and the President of Tunisia, Kais Saied, out of the almost two billion in economic loans conditional on the implementation of a series of reforms in the African country, it is the European Union that takes the lead in negotiations with the Tunisian leader. And, as we saw yesterday at the summit in Tunis in which the Dutch Prime Minister Rutte and the President of the Commission von der Leyen were also present, the push for a protagonism of Brussels in the funds to be allocated to Tunisia is first of all Giorgia Meloni. The Italian government has thus become the main promoter of what in all respects would become the re-proposition of the “Pnrr model” on African soil: a series of loans by the Commission to be granted to Saïed, associated with some constraints which, however, can be accepted by the African leader, given the veto of the reforms established by the IMF.

The path has been traced: the agreement between the EU and Tunisia will be certified with the signing of a memorandum around four macro-objectives at the end of June, on the same days as the European Council will take place in Brussels. Right there it will be understood, therefore, whether the Italian pressure for a rapid conclusion of the negotiation has been successful: because immigration remains a terrain of divisions between the member countries and because the announced figures are important in any case. There is talk of 150 million to be released immediately, without conditions, with a second tranche of 900 million which would bring the total mobilization to over one billion euros.

In reality, as Giorgia Meloni herself confessed, for now the largest part of the loans remains in any case conditional on the agreement between the IMF and Saïed. But what matters, beyond the negotiation, is the political fact: the role exercised in Europe by Giorgia Meloni’s executive to convince other countries to align themselves with the Italian position. An objective that obviously hinges on the management of migratory flows; but which, as demonstrated by yesterday’s summit, also concerns the economic and political stability of North Africa as well as the fundamental chapter of energy supplies.

The declarations of various government representatives therefore only confirm Italy’s push for a “Tunisian Pnrr”. “The lack of help from the West not only puts Tunisia in trouble, it hands it over to powers who would like to use it to put the West in crisis in a few years,” said the defense minister, Guido Crosetto, reiterating the need to bring the United States into line with its European partners. And the visit of the foreign minister is scheduled for today in America, Antonio Tajaniengaged in various meetings in which the Tunisian dossier will be one of the priorities.