About the Conference

Tunisian President Kais Syed is visiting Italy to attend an international conference on combating illegal migration a week after signing a memorandum of understanding with the European Union.

Today, Sunday, the Italian capital of Rome will host the international conference “Development and Migration” with the participation of the countries of Europe, the Southern Mediterranean, and Africa.

Conference Objectives

The Italian government said in a statement that the conference aims to “regulate the phenomenon of migration, combat human trafficking, and promote economic development in accordance with a new model of cooperation between countries through the joint planning and implementation of initiatives and projects in six main sectors: agriculture, infrastructure, education and training, health, water resources, and the environment.”

The statement said that the participants of the conference are the leaders of the countries of the Southern Mediterranean, countries of the Cooperation Council of the Gulf States, Africa, the European Union, and international financial institutions.

Addressing the Flow of Immigrants

The Tunisian president has previously called for an international conference to address the problems of illegal migration following an increase in the flow of immigrants from sub-Saharan Africa into his country.

Tunisia has become the main point of departure for illegal migrants to European coasts.

Tunisia’s Partnership with the European Union

Tunisia has signed a “comprehensive and strategic” memorandum of understanding with the European Union that includes economic development, renewable energy, and the fight against illegal migration.

Organizations criticized the partnership agreement and expressed fear that Tunisia would become a policeman to guard European coasts, but President Said stressed that his country would not be “guardians for other countries” and that it “would not be a country of transit or a place of settlement.”