Summary:

On 10 January 2023, Tunisian Foreign Minister Othman Jerandi held a call with his Italian counterpart during which they affirmed their close alignment on irregular migration and the benefits of the growing economic partnership between the two countries. Italy has expanded investment in Tunisia such that they are now the largest investor in energy projects and the second largest foreign investor overall behind France. Italy has launched the large-scale energy transmission project, ELMED, connecting the two countries. The two ministers confirmed plans to continue collaborating closely on countering irregular migration while searching for means to encourage regular migration between Tunisia and Europe.

Outlook:  

As one of the main target destinations for irregular migrants from Tunisia and other African countries, Italy has a vested and continually expanding interest in stemming the flow of irregular migrants. Investment in Tunisia’s infrastructure and capacity remains a key means by which to grow confidence among Tunisians in indigenous economic opportunities. Our team is continuing to monitor irregular migration patterns for potential near- and long-term impacts on the security environment in Tunisia.

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