Italy’s Interior Minister, Matteo Piantedosi stated that the country has actively collaborated with Libya, Tunisia, the Ivory Coast, and Egypt in combating migrant smuggling.
He emphasised Italy’s commitment during a conference on countering human traffickers organized by the European Commission in Brussels.
Piantedosi highlighted Italy’s primary initiatives are directed toward Tunisia, the origin of over 60% of migrants arriving on Italian shores, and Libya. He expressed gratitude to his Libyan counterparts for their continuous cooperation.
The minister underscored that communication with Tunisian and Libyan authorities “allowed the reinvigoration of collaboration against human traffickers and irregular migration. Technical meetings facilitated targeted cooperation with the concerned countries, focusing on managing migration phenomena.”
He said that the “enhanced collaboration enables the swift implementation of operational initiatives by launching joint investigations between Italian and Tunisian anti-trafficking agencies.”
Piantedosi concluded that the “battle against traffickers can only be won through direct action on the borders, both on land and at sea, with stringent controls.”
Last week, Interior Ministers from Libya, Tunisia, and Italy gathered to address the escalating migration crisis, affecting the Mediterranean region.
The Libyan Interior Minister, Emad Al-Trabelsi, his Tunisian counterpart, Kamal El-Feki, and Piantedosi, along with other senior officials, engaged in comprehensive discussions to tackle this complex issue.
The Tunisian Ministry of Interior underscored the “enduring relations and existing high-level coordination between the three nations, particularly in managing migration-related challenges.” This meeting marks a pivotal moment in strengthening the collaborative approach among Libya, Tunisia, and Italy to manage both regular and irregular migration flows.
Central to the dialogue was the development of joint strategies aimed at mitigating the adverse effects of migration. The participating countries sought practical and immediate solutions for the humane, and voluntary repatriation of irregular migrants. This was coupled with their sustainable reintegration into their home countries, all within a framework of developmental initiatives.