Meloni's visit to Tunisia 'crucial' says Johansson

(ANSA) - ROME, JUN 6 - European Internal Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson has said the visit Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni is paying to Tunisia on Tuesday is "crucial".
    Tunisia is in the midst of a major financial crisis and 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.
    Meloni reportedly hopes the visit, in which she will meet President Kais Saied, can lead to a breakthrough in stalled talks between Tunis and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on a 1.9.billion-dollar loan to ease the crisis.
    "We must increase cooperation with Tunisia, which is a key partner," Johansson told reporters.
    "The number of (migrant-boat) departures is not sustainable and Giorgia Meloni's visit today is crucial because Italy plays a constructive role in our relations with Tunis.
    "The Commission and Rome are allied in increasing cooperation with this country.
    "After my (recent) mission we have seen a significant fall in departures from Tunisia but it not certain that this will last".
    (ANSA).