In an initiative spearheaded by Italy’s national-conservative leader Giorgia Meloni, the European Union and the North African country of Tunisia have finalized a landmark agreement that seeks to curtail increasingly deadly illegal mass migration by concretely supporting the economic development of the country.
After months of negotiations fraught with quarreling, the Memorandum of Understanding—which outlines the “strategic and comprehensive” plan to fight illegal migration, foster economic development, and develop renewable energy—was signed at the presidential place in Carthage on Sunday, July 16th, by the relevant EU and Tunisian officials, a press release from the EU Commission revealed.
For the sealing of the deal—brokered by Giorgia Meloni alongside Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, who recently resigned from his post due his disastrous migration policies, and Ursula von der Leyen—saw the three travel to Tunisia on Sunday to meet once more with Tunisian President Kais Saied.
Covered in the agreement are migration, macroeconomic stability, trade and investment, green energy transition, and people-to-people contacts.
Commenting on aspects of the agreement related to migration, Meloni, while speaking at the press conference on Sunday, said: “We have achieved a very important goal which comes after a great deal of diplomatic work. The Memorandum is an important step towards creating a real partnership between the EU and Tunisia.”
Meloni added that the agreement ought to be regarded as a “model” for the 27-member bloc to present to other governments in North Africa that will be called upon to play key roles in helping to control mass migration out of Africa.
“We need effective cooperation, more than ever” on migration, von der Leyen said as she announced plans of increased multilateral cooperation meant to tackle “networks of smugglers and traffickers” and expand search and rescue operations to prevent tragedies like the one that took place in mid-June from occurring.
Tunisian President Kais Saied, for his part, expressed his desire to impose the series of measures outlined in the pact against the “criminal network of traffickers” as “soon as possible.”
“I have to thank you all and in particular Prime Minister Meloni for having responded immediately to the Tunisian initiative to organize a summit for all the countries concerned. Because the solution to this inhuman situation can only be common and in particular to address the causes before the effects,” Saied added.
The outgoing Dutch prime minister told reporters that “migration is a significant” element of the agreement that had been signed” and is crucial for Europe to establish a grip on the increasingly out-of-control illegal migration situation.
Under the new agreement, the European Union will allocate €150 million to support Tunisia’s state budget and another €105 million to bolster the country’s border protection agency.
