Relations with Libya are a priority
for Italy and the European Union, Premier Giorgia Meloni said
Tuesday on her fourth visit to Tripoli since becoming Italy's
first woman premier two years ago and boosting ties with Africa
to help stem migrant departures.
"This is my fourth visit to Libya since I took over the
government. This frequency of reciprocal visits is the result of
a very specific political choice of our government: we consider
the relationship with Libya a priority for Italy and a priority
for Europe," Meloni said at the Italy-Libya Business Forum in
Tripoli.
"And we are convinced that the deep cooperation that binds us
has not yet expressed its full potential".
Meloni went on to say that there was "broad cooperation" with
Tripoli on the migration issue and Italy and Libya were fighting
illegal migration while trying to boost legal migration.
She said: "Together with the work we do to combat mass illegal
immigration and to guarantee the right not to have to emigrate,
that is, to promote growth and development, it is essential to
promote legal migration channels.
"The Italian government has brought forward a three-year flow
decree for 450,000 entries, to promote legal migration.
But these are mechanisms that only work if the production
systems of the two nations that are cooperating talk to each
other, if they are connected systems upstream, if there is a
match between supply and demand for work and if there is
training work".
The Prime Minister recalled her participation in the
Trans-Mediterranean Migration Forum in July, also in Tripoli, "a
very important initiative wanted by the Prime Minister to
address, together with Italy, the EU and African nations, the
issue of managing migratory flows and combating human
traffickers.
"The cooperation we are carrying out corresponds overall to a
very broad vision".
Meloni also said that "we are at Libya's side in this phase of
development"; that "there is a new phase in trade relations with
Libya"; and that "Italy is a bridge for Libya towards the energy
market".
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
