Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni visits Libya and Algeria to strengthen economic and trade ties

Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, arrived in Libya this Saturday (01.28.2023) for the second leg of her North African tour. This is the first visit by a European head of government or state since Mario Draghi’s in April 2021.

Ms Meloni was welcomed in Tripoli by Abdelhamid Dbeibah, the head of the national unity government. Italy, former colonial power of Libya, is an important trading partner for hydrocarbons. The trip to Libya focused on both trade and migration.

An agreement between the Italian energy giant ENI and the Libyan oil company NOC for the development of two gas fields off the coast of Libya is expected to be signed. Additionally, discussions around curbing illegal migrants from the Libyan coast were held.

Ms Meloni began her trip to North Africa in Algeria, where she discussed strengthening cooperation in the hydrocarbons sector.

105,000 migrants arrived in Italy by sea in 2022 alone, according to Italian Interior Ministry figures. Giorgia Meloni come to power in October promising to end illegal migration in Italy.

The trip to North Africa comes as part of her commitment to building strong economic and trade ties with the region.