Meloni hails 'important step' towards EU-Tunisia pact

(ANSA) - ROME, JUN 11 - Premier Giorgia Meloni on Sunday expressed satisfaction at the joint EU-Tunisia statement resulting from talks that she, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte engaged in with Tunisian President President Kais Saied in Tunis on Sunday.
    She hailed it as a big step towards an agreement of migration cooperation and other issues that she hopes will be signed before the European Council summit at the end of June.
    "We are very satisfied with the joint EU, Tunisia statement adopted today," Meloni said referring to the document that also refers to strengthening economic and trade ties and a sustainable energy partnership.
    "It is a very important step.
    "We have an important window of opportunity".
    The three European leaders presented a major investment package and promised diplomatic efforts to help Tunisia land a 1.9-billlion-dollar loan from the IMF to enable it to ease its severe financial crisis and avert the risk of a default.
    The unstable situation in the North African country has been a major factor in a huge increase in the number of migrants coming to Italy from across the Mediterranean this year.
    The EU leaders said they were ready to mobilize up 900 million euros in financial assistance for Tunisia as soon as the necessary agreement is found with the IMF, plus 150 million euros in immediate support An agreement has not been reached on the loan so far due to Saied's reluctance to agree to the reforms the IMF has requested in order to grant the loan.
    Von der Leyen stressed that both sides "have an interest in breaking the cynical business model of smuggler.
    "It is horrible to see how they deliberately risk human lives for profit," she continued.
    Von der Leyen announced 100 million euros in EU funding to Tunisia for border-management support, search-and-rescue anti-smuggling operations and repatriations.
    The joint statement said that: "as part of our joint work on migration, the fight against irregular migration to and from Tunisia and the prevention of loss of life at sea, is a common priority, including fighting against smugglers and human traffickers, strengthening border management, registration and return in full respect of human rights". (ANSA).