ROME: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Wednesday said her government’s efforts to help Tunisia overcome its economic crisis benefit the people of both countries.
Speaking in the Italian Chamber of Deputies, she told legislators about her government’s efforts to help Tunisia receive as soon as possible a loan of nearly $1.9 billion from the International Monetary Fund.
The IMF requires Tunisia’s government to carry out a series of reforms before giving the loan. However, Tunisia is asking for a first tranche of funding to be released immediately by the IMF, while the rest of the loan can be paid in line with the progress of reforms. Rome has urged the IMF to approve an initial, unconditional bailout package.
Meloni recalled her visit to Tunis on June 11 with Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte in order to speed up the provision of EU financial aid to Tunisia.
“What we’re trying to do with Tunisia is to prevent a nation, which is our neighbor, from going into default. We’re trying to do this for the citizens of Tunisia and also for our citizens,” Meloni said.
She added that Italy promotes “a serious cooperation approach” toward Tunisia and other North African countries, “an equal approach to promote growth and development.”
Meloni described as “extremely positive” the fact that the situation in Tunisia will be covered during the EU Council meeting on June 29-30, and expressed her wish that Brussels will unlock an aid package “as soon as possible.”
She said: “Europe must keep its focus on Tunisia’s stability. This is a fundamental objective for the security of the entire Mediterranean area and, consequently, of Europe.”