Italy and Tunisia Sign Agreement to Promote Green Energy

January 17, 2025

(3 Minutes Read)

Signed in a ceremony in Rome on Thursday (16^th January) by Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and Tunisian Foreign Minister Mohammed Ali Nafti, this marked an important step that would strengthen the collaboration between the two countries in green technology.

Italy and Tunisia formalized a two-year partnership, with the former pledging 400 million euros to support development initiatives focused on energy transition. This is a significant increase, doubling Italy’s previous financial engagement from the 2021-223 agreement.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has prioritized agreements with African nations as part of her development strategy, the Mattei Plan, named after Enrico Mattei, the founder of the state-owned oil and gas company Eni. Italy aims to generate jobs and opportunities in Africa, thereby reducing the incentive for individuals to embark on perilous migration journeys across the central Mediterranean. In her first year in office, Meloni witnessed a substantial increase in migrant arrivals, with approximately 160,000 reaching Italy in 2023.She attributes the subsequent decline in migrant numbers in 2024 to this policy.

According to Frontex, as reported by www.trendsnafrica.com, the European border control agency, there has been a 59% decrease in crossings along the central Mediterranean route in 2024, largely due to fewer boats departing from Libya and Tunisia.