Abdul Hamid Dbeibah and Giorgia Meloni engaged in bilateral discussions. Meloni was accompanied by the Minister of University and Research, the Minister of Health, and the Minister of Sport and Youth, who signed memoranda of understanding to enhance cooperation.
These agreements cover areas such as university collaboration, research, healthcare, sports, and youth initiatives, all within the framework of the Mattei Plan. This plan, supported by the Italian government, aims to mitigate illegal migration from Africa to Italy by fostering economic development and positioning Italy as a crucial energy hub.
Libya’s strategic location along the Mediterranean, coupled with the tumultuous aftermath of Muammar Gaddafi’s demise, has turned the nation into a primary pathway for migrants attempting to reach Europe.
Amidst this instability, the country fractured, giving rise to rival administrations in the eastern and western regions, each supported by various militias and foreign entities. The route from Libya to Italy has now become one of the most frequented and perilous passages for sea migration.
Additionally, according to the Italian news agency Agenzia Nova, Meloni plans to hold discussions with Khalifa Haftar, the influential figure who effectively controls the eastern sector of Libya.
Before its engagements in Libya and, more recently, Albania, Italy, a coastal European nation, has sought greater solidarity from its EU counterparts, largely without success.