As African migration to Europe increases, Tunisia is at the center of Italy’s foreign policy agenda

Italy has committed to providing €105 million in financial aid and credit lines to Tunisia, underscoring the European nation’s strategic efforts to strengthen economic ties with African countries and tackle illegal immigration to Europe

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni signed three agreements with Tunisian President Kais Saied last week, during her fourth visit to Tunisia in less than a year. The frequent diplomatic exchanges and extensive agreements between these countries underline Tunisia’s growing importance within the Italian foreign policy framework. This importance is especially notable given Tunisia’s reputation as a major departure point for irregular migration to Europe.

As part of its strategy to strengthen economic ties with African countries and tackle illegal immigration to Europe, Italy is providing 105 million euros in cash and credit lines to Tunisia. This amount includes €50 million ($53 million) in cash aimed at promoting energy efficiency and sustainable energy projects in Tunisia and a €55 million ($59 million) credit line to support Tunisian small and medium-sized enterprises.

Riccardo Fabiani, project director for North Africa at the International Crisis Group, told The Media Line that Tunisia has become one of Italy’s foreign policy priorities following the spike in irregular migration from Tunisia to Italy.

Fabiani explained that curbing migration is a policy priority for Italy’s right-wing government, especially in the run-up to the European Parliament elections. “Italy is trying to strengthen the bilateral relationship to convince Tunisia to continue working together on this delicate file,” he said.

Kelly Petillo, program manager for the Middle East and North Africa at the European Council on Foreign Relations, noted that Tunisia has become a crucial departure point for migrants. More than 50% of migrants leaving for Italy in 2023 came from Tunisia, and the rate of immigration from Tunisia is increasing.

Petillo told The Media Line that Tunisia also plays a key role in Meloni’s Africa strategy, known as the Mattei Plan. The plan, announced in October 2022, aims to position Italy as an important bridge between Europe and Africa.

Mario Savina, a North African researcher at Sapienza University of Rome and analyst at OSMED Istituto S. Pio V., told The Media Line that the agreements between the two countries were part of an effort to convince Tunisia to crack down against irregular migration. to Italy.

For the first time, the Italian right has understood that migration is a complex problem that deserves a multi-dimensional solution

Fabiani said the agreements were intended to strengthen the perception that Italy is willing to cooperate with Tunisia as long as Tunisians continue to support Italy on migration. “For the first time, the Italian right has understood that migration is a complex problem that deserves a multi-dimensional solution,” he said.

According to Fabiani, this approach lacks both a convincing plan and sufficient support measures and resources. “There is considerable naivete behind this approach,” he said.

Petillo said the agreements aim to make Tunisia more stable as a way to reduce irregular migration. “They are intended to help African countries like Tunisia boost their economies, but in practice they end up allowing Italy to benefit from the dividends these investments generate,” she said.

These agreements hardly address the structural problems in these countries that can appease the people who live there, such as corruption and bad economies

She said Prime Minister Meloni’s real goal is to secure a steady flow of energy resources to Italy. “These agreements hardly address the structural problems in these countries that can appease the people who live there, such as corruption and bad economies,” she said.

Savina pointed out the contradiction involved in investing in a country to prevent its residents from leaving. He cited studies showing that improved living conditions initially cause an increase in migration as more people have access to the resources needed to leave.

“They receive training that opens horizons and increases marketable skills, and they develop new ambitions that they cannot yet satisfy on site,” he said. He explained that stable development can only provide a credible alternative to migration in the long term.

Fabiani also said that investments in Tunisia will not result in the short-term effects that Italy is looking for. To reduce migration in the short term, Italy should strengthen security in Tunisia. “This also means turning a blind eye to repression, human rights violations and deaths during sea crossings,” he said.

We know that Tunisia cannot become the country of arrival for migrants, and cooperation in this area must be strengthened

During her visit, Meloni confirmed to President Saied that Italy had no intention of allowing Tunisia to become a destination or permanent residence for migrants. “We know that Tunisia cannot become the country of arrival for migrants, and cooperation in this area must be strengthened,” she said on Wednesday.

Savina said the Tunisian president was concerned about the number of immigrants from sub-Saharan Africa who had come to Tunisia. Saied is exploiting the situation to gain benefits from his European partners, just as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the late Libyan President Moammar Gadhafi did, Savina said.

“Saied is keen to ensure that Tunisia does not become a recipient of migrants, as Turkey did as part of the EU-Turkey deal in 2016, and last week he said he had no intention of opening migrant detention centers, as Albania did so as part of the deal. the deal with Italy,” Petillo said. She said Saied’s words are probably just harsh rhetoric, noting that the deals between Tunisia and Italy are very lucrative for Saied.