Emmanuel Macron and Giorgia Meloni want to work together on the Tunisian crisis

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni speaks to the media after an EU summit, at EU headquarters in Brussels, March 24, 2023. © JOHN THYS / AFP

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The crisis in Tunisia, and its possible consequences in terms of migration, was discussed at the European Council. A subject on which Giorgia Meloni and Emmanuel Macron discussed one-on-one late in the evening of Thursday, March 23, during a 1h40 interview, from which emerges a desire for cooperation between Rome and Paris.

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Italy sees more Tunisians heading for its shores every day. Giorgia Meloni then insisted that the migration issue be addressed at the European Council, reports our special envoy in Brussels, Juliette Gheerbrant

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Not everyone may be aware of the risks of the situation and the need to support the stability of a country plagued by serious financial problems that risk triggering an objectively unprecedented wave of migration. " said the Italian Prime Minister.

The French President certainly shares his concerns. "The great political tension, the economic and social crisis that is raging in the absence of an agreement with the International Monetary Fund, is very worrying," Macron said.

► Also listen: Resolution in the European Parliament on the situation in Tunisia: "A call to order"

Diplomatic work needed

Diplomatic work is needed to convince Tunisia and the IMF to reach an agreement, Meloni said. On this issue, France and Italy want to act together, as confirmed by Emmanuel Macron.

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Our desire is to act together to help Tunisia regain political stability and also to engage in ways of cooperation, one of the components of which is the control of immigration. On this subject, I believe that we have concrete cooperation that we can have both in dialogue with the Tunisian president and his government, with the International Monetary Fund, but also because we, as a country, can do, bilaterally and with the European Union for Tunisia, "says the French president.

Italy has to be content, for the moment, with declarations of principle on the need to secure Europe's southern front, explains our correspondent in Rome, Anne Le Nir. The European Commissioner for the Economy, Paolo Gentiloni, is expected in Tunis on Monday 27 March.

In the last few hours, more than 1,000 migrants have been rescued in the Mediterranean by the Italian Coast Guard. Most of the boats left from Tunisia, a country worried about Rome. "The possible collapse of its economy could trigger an unprecedented wave of migration in Europe," said the head of the Italian government, not hesitating to quote the figure of 900,000 migrants during a recent parliamentary debate.

The head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, warned on Monday (March 20th) that the situation in Tunisia was "very dangerous", also evoking a risk of "collapse" of the state likely to "provoke migratory flows to the EU and lead to instability in the Middle East and North Africa region." An analysis qualified as "disproportionate" and rejected by Tunis.

► Also listen: Stay or go? Tunisia's Sub-Saharans face stigma

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Read on on the same topics:

  • Italy
  • France
  • Tunisia
  • Emmanuel Macron
  • Giorgia Meloni
  • European Union
  • Immigration
  • International migration