The Head of the Libya-Italy Friendship Committee in the House of Representatives, Al-Sadiq Al-Kahili, and committee member Asmahan Beloun met with the Italian Ambassador to Libya, Gianluca Alberini, and the Italian Consul in Benghazi, Francesco Luigi.
The meeting, held on Wednesday at the House of Representatives headquarters in Benghazi, focused on strengthening bilateral relations and discussing key economic, educational, and reconstruction initiatives between Libya and Italy.
Al-Kahili highlighted that the talks covered Italy’s support in higher education, healthcare, and reconstruction efforts. He emphasised the importance of enhancing economic ties and facilitating the return of Italian companies to Libya.
One of the main points discussed was the agreement regarding Libyan prisoners serving sentences in Italy. The committee reviewed the arrangements made during the Libyan Speaker of Parliament’s recent visit to the Italian Parliament, aiming to transfer Libyan prisoners back to Libya to serve the remainder of their sentences. This initiative aligns with the Libya-Italy prisoner transfer agreement signed in 2008.
The Italian Council of Ministers approved a draft law on 23 December 2024 to ratify the agreement on transferring convicted persons between the two countries. The move is seen as a step towards strengthening legal and judicial cooperation.
The meeting reaffirmed Libya and Italy’s commitment to deepening their long-standing diplomatic and economic ties. With ongoing discussions about investment, infrastructure projects, and academic collaboration, both sides expressed optimism about further cooperation.