Meloni in Tunisia: “Italy’s effort fundamental for the agreement with the IMF”

He reiterates Italy’s “all-round” support for Tunisia. And he underlines how much and how our country is making a “fundamental effort” to facilitate the closure of the financial agreement between Tunis and the International Monetary Fund. The premier Giorgia Meloni today she was received by the Tunisian president Kais Saied in the presidential palace of Tunis. A trip organized suddenly, and which serves above all as a guarantee for the 1.9 billion dollar loan that the IMF should disburse to Tunisia to avoid its economic collapse. A collapse that would have a great impact on the European continent and above all on Italy, especially as regards the landings, many of which take hold right from the Tunisian ports. Which is why Rome has been involved in this match for months, in which it has also tried to involve the European institutions.

“The stabilization of the political and security framework, the growth of democracy in Tunisia is essential for Tunisia, but also for Italy, so that together we can reach potentials that are extraordinary from our point of view“, Meloni said after the meeting with the Tunisian president. “In this period of difficulty in the international situation, I wanted to confirm Italy’s all-round support to President Saied. Support, for example, to the Tunisian budget with the opening of credit lines in favor above all of development, starting from small and medium-sized enterprises up to issues related to the agri-food sector”.

Regarding the IMF loan, Meloni said he “told President Saied of the efforts that a friendly country like Italy is making to try to reach a positive conclusion of the agreement between Tunisia and the International Monetary Fund, which remains fundamental for the strengthening and full recovery of the country“. The premier also recalled that Italian cooperation projects in Tunisia amount to around 700 million euros in various economic sectors.

Meloni also confessed that she was “worried about the next few months”, especially as regards the migration issue. This is why you asked the EU to increase support in the fight against illegal immigration. “I am very grateful to the European Commission for the work it has done”, continued Meloni speaking of the migration policies being worked out in Brussels, “and to speed up the implementation of this package, I have given President Saied my willingness to return here soon to Tunisia also together with the president of the EU Commission Ursula von der Lyen“, specified the prime minister. Who in Tunis also relaunched the “Piano Mattei” project, because “a security approach is not enough”.

Among the hypotheses addressed by the two is that of an international conference on Tunisia, to be held, according to the indications of the prime minister, in Rome in the coming months.