Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has asked Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for help in stemming the flow of migrants travelling through Libya to Europe, Italian media reported.
On Saturday, sources close to the Italian prime minister told reporters that increased co-operation on migration was a key theme of the visit.
Italian newspaper Il Giornale said an agreement was reached between the leaders to prevent smugglers from leaving Libya, where “Sultan Erdogan has great influence.”
Most migrants come to Italy from Tripolitania, a region of Libya where co-operation with Turkey on the ground could prove effective.
The first steps towards bilateral co-operation on migration issues were taken in September at a meeting between Meloni and Erdoğan in New York during the UN General Assembly. This was followed by meetings between the Italian and Turkish foreign ministers and a subsequent visit to Turkey by Italian Secretary General for Foreign Affairs Riccardo Guariglia.
In October, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said that potential co-operation in the Middle East and Africa was discussed during Guariglia’s visit. However, according to BBC Türkçe, citing an Il Giornale report, the foreign ministries have yet to conclude a written agreement.
The development comes on the eve of the Italy-Africa conference to be held in Rome on 29 January. The conference aims to strengthen ties between Europe and Africa. The conference is expected to be attended by heads of state, government officials and representatives of the European Union, the African Union and international organisations. The Italian government plans to present the “Mattei Plan” at the summit, aimed at stimulating growth and equitable
Italy will hold the presidency of the Group of Seven (G7) in 2024 will make Africa a central theme during its time at the helm.
