ROME (ITALPRESS/MNA) – “We reiterate that Italy wants to be the bridge between Tunisia and the European Union, strengthening collaboration with the European Commission to ensure that the North African country becomes a primary interlocutor”. This was stated by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani, at the end of a meeting at the Italian Foreign Ministry with Tunisian Foreign Minister Mohamed Ali Nafti.
“In the last two years, relations with Tunisia have made a qualitative leap in the economic, migratory and political fields, thanks also to Italy’s efforts to enhance the partnership between Tunisia and the EU”, he added.
“We want to strengthen the economic partnership” with Tunisia, since “1,000 Italian companies operate in the country. This is why we have agreed to organize a new business forum in Tunis”, Tajani underlined. Even “with regard to the energy sector, Tunisia represents a fundamental hub for the growth” of both countries and “presents great potential”, he recalled.
“The agreements with Tunisia are also an example for the rest of the African continent,” the deputy prime minister explained. During the meeting, “two agreements were signed,” one on the mutual recognition of driving licenses, also in light of the need to align with national and European legislation on the management of personal data, and an agreement on the energy transition, with the aim of promoting Italian investments in the production of renewable energy in Tunisia and the development of energy interconnection infrastructures between Italy and Tunisia, in full harmony with the principles and objectives of the Mattei Plan for Africa.
“We also signed a Joint Declaration on development cooperation” between Italy and Tunisia for the period 2025-2027, which includes the commitment by Italy to finance projects of up to 400 million euros. “A constructive and fruitful meeting” between Tunisia and Italy, “a very important opportunity that allowed us to address several common issues, which also concern the international situation. We want our relations to be steadily advanced and stronger”, said Tunisian Foreign Minister Mohamed Ali Nafti.
“We are ready to celebrate 70 years of diplomatic relations between Tunisia and Italy, for which many diplomats have worked in recent years, in the interest of our peoples and the Mediterranean region”, he stressed.
“We will work to strengthen this bond, to share a common benefit, following the win-win principle in various sectors, including education: Italian universities have become a popular destination for thousands of Tunisians who want to come and study in Italy”.
– Photo Agenzia Fotogramma –
(ITALPRESS).
