Meloni sees von der Leyen on Tunis trip, competitiveness

(ANSA) - ROME, APR 18 - Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni reportedly met with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen Thursday morning at the Europa Building before the European Council resumed its work, with the focus of the meeting being an update on the outcome of the PM's visit to Tunisia, also in relation to the implementation process of the Migration Memorandum and the Mattei Plan, the concrete initiatives that can be implemented in light of the conclusions on the situation of Syrian refugees in Lebanon, and a discussion on the issues of European competitiveness in view of Thursday's discussion between the EU leaders.
    Meloni visited Tunisia on Wednesday for talks with President Kais Saied and signed several agreements related to the government's Mattei Plan.
    The plan sets to create a new partnership with African countries to address the root causes of irregular migration and turn Italy into a sort of hub for energy supplies.
    The agreements signed on Wednesday regarded support for the Tunisian State budget for energy efficiency and renewable energy; credit for Tunisian small-and-medium-sized enterprises; and a memorandum of understanding between the Italian Ministry of Universities and Research and its Tunisian counterpart.
    It was Meloni's fourth visit to Tunisia in 10 months but the first specifically regarding the Mattei Plan.
    Meloni was instrumental in bringing about an EU deal with Tunis for a strategic partnership featuring financial support and cooperation on combatting human traffickers, among other things, following a big increase in the number of migrants arriving in Italy from North Africa.
    She signed the deal with von der Leyen.
    On Wednesday Meloni agreed 100 million euros more in finding for the various projects in Tunisia.
    Meloni and von der Leyen on Thursday also discussed former ECB chief and ex Italian premier Mario Draghi's report on how to boost competitiveness in the EU. (ANSA).