Italy works to secure Tunisia IMF funding for stable cooperation

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is acting as an intermediary between Tunis and the IMF to unblock funding that would help stabilise Tunisia’s fragile democracy to the benefit of coastal control and illegal departures to Italian shores.

Meloni was in Tunis on Tuesday to meet her Tunisian counterpart, Prime Minister Najla Bouden Ramadan. She also met with Tunisian President Kais Saied, who welcomed her at the Presidential Palace in Carthage.

The hottest topic for Meloni is migration since most irregular migrants landing in Italy come from Tunisia, particularly from the Sfax region. Tunisia’s political and financial instability fuels the departures, and a possible financial default of the country would trigger an exodus to Europe.

Italy’s diplomatic strategy for Africa is based on a non-predatory model of cooperation that benefits both sides, Meloni said on several occasions.

She arrived in Tunis to ask for more control over the Tunisian coast but also to offer support in the negotiations between Tunisia and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), with the aim of unblocking funding of around $2 billion and closing a $1.9 billion deal in favour of Tunis, which has so far described the conditional reforms demanded by the IMF as ‘unacceptable diktats’.

“With full respect for Tunisian sovereignty, I told President Saied about the efforts that a friendly country like Italy is making to try to reach a positive conclusion to the agreement between Tunisia and the IMF, which remains fundamental for a strengthening and full recovery of the country”, Meloni said.

She also emphasised that Italy acted as a European spokesperson for a “concrete approach” to support Tunisia further, “both in the fight against human trafficking and illegal immigration, but also for an integrated support package, funding and important opportunities that Brussels is working on”.

While thanking the European Commission, Meloni told Saied that she could return to Tunis but this time with Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Meanwhile, Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson called Meloni’s visit to Tunisia “crucial”.

“We must increase cooperation with Tunisia, it is a key partner. Italy plays a constructive role in our relations with Tunis. On this, the Commission and Rome are allied in increasing cooperation with this country”, Johansson said.

“The numbers of departures to Italy are not sustainable”, she added, stressing that there had nevertheless been a “significant drop” in departures from Tunisia since her visit. Meloni confirmed that landings in May had decreased compared to previous months, although the numbers remained such that they overburdened the Italian reception system.

“We are facing the most difficult season, we cannot but be concerned about the coming months, and we believe that we must intensify our common work by strengthening collaboration with the Tunisian authorities in prevention activities”, said Meloni.

Although Italy has already contributed unsuccessfully to Tunisian border management, Meloni said she is ready “to do more” and is working to involve the European Union to help.

“But the securitarian approach is not enough if we do not then do important work that also concerns investment, development, training, regular migrant flows and the possibility of offering people better living conditions”, she stressed.

“You are a woman who says out loud what others think in silence (…) I am very happy to talk to you about our problems”, said President Saied, referring to Meloni.

(Federica Pascale | EURACTIV.it)