Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will be making a stop in Tunis before heading to Brussels for the meeting of Extraordinary European Council. This visit marks his fourth trip to Tunisia in under a year, the first being part of the Mattei Plan. Italian sources highlight Rome’s strong commitment to supporting Tunisia, a nation with historic relations of friendship and a vital element in the stability of the Mediterranean and North Africa.
Italy is actively promoting positive relations between the European Union and Tunisia, in line with the Memorandum signed on July 16, 2023. Accompanying the Prime Minister on this visit will be the Minister of the Interior Matteo Piantedosi, the Minister of University and Research Anna Maria Bernini, and deputy foreign minister Edmondo Cirielli. Further missions are expected to follow in the coming weeks. The focus of this visit will be dialogue with Tunisian President Kai Saied regarding key areas of bilateral cooperation, including implementation of Mattei Plan for Africa, migration cooperation, energy and economic cooperation.
Migration cooperation remains a central aspect of Italy-Tunis relationship with strong support at both bilateral and EU levels for efforts to combat smuggling and trafficking in human beings. Legal mobility for work reasons is also a priority, with a Memorandum signed between Italy and Tunisia on October 20, 2023. Tunisia is a priority country under Mattei Plan for Africa, and this visit will explore various areas of cooperation between two nations.
During this visit three instruments will be signed as part of Mattei Plan including agreements on direct support for Tunisian state budget in energy efficiency and renewable energy, credit line for small and medium-sized Tunisian businesses, memorandum on cooperation in university research field. The economic partnership between Italy and Tunisia is robust; Italy being top supplier while also being second largest market outlet for country.
A strategic project between Italy
