Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Wednesday that her government’s efforts to help Tunisia overcome its economic crisis are benefiting people in both countries.
Speaking to the Italian Chamber of Deputies, she told the government of her government’s efforts to help Tunisia receive a loan of nearly $1.9 billion from the International Monetary Fund as soon as possible.
The IMF requires the Tunisian government to implement a series of reforms before granting the loan. However, Tunisia is asking for the first tranche of financing to be released immediately by the IMF, with the rest of the loan being disbursed depending on the progress of the reforms. Rome has asked the IMF to approve a first unconditional rescue plan.
Meloni recalled that she had traveled to Tunis on June 11 with Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, and Mark Rutte, Dutch Prime Minister, in order to accelerate the granting of financial aid from the EU to Tunisia.
“What we are trying to do with Tunisia is to prevent a country, which is our neighbor, from going into default. We are trying to do this for Tunisian citizens and also for our citizens,” Meloni said.
She added that Italy encourages “a serious cooperation approach” with Tunisia and other North African countries, “an equal approach to promoting growth and development”.
Meloni described as “extremely positive” the fact that the situation in Tunisia will be discussed at the EU Council meeting on June 29 and 30, and expressed the wish that Brussels would release an aid package “as soon as possible”.
She added: “Europe must remain focused on Tunisia: “Europe must continue to focus on the stability of Tunisia. This is a fundamental objective for the security of the entire Mediterranean region and, therefore, of Europe.”
