Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni visited Libya on Tuesday to engage with local leaders regarding joint initiatives in crucial sectors such as energy and infrastructure, as well as to explore new investment prospects and bolster cooperation on migration.
During her meeting with Libya’s Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah in Tripoli, Meloni and Dbeibah agreed to convene an Italian-Libyan business forum by the end of the year.
Meloni and her Libyan counterpart discussed the significance of holding Libyan presidential and parliamentary elections under United Nations mediation, as emphasised in a statement from Meloni’s office following the discussions.
Dbeibah shared on Facebook that he had productive discussions with Meloni aimed at enhancing bilateral cooperation between the two nations. He noted that the meeting resulted in the signing of three agreements spanning health, higher education, and scientific research, as well as sports and youth.
Meloni affirmed Italy’s commitment to fostering greater unity within the international community and promoting cooperation between Libya and the EU.
Accompanying Meloni were the ministers of university and research, health, and sport and youth.
The agreements reached on Tuesday are part of the Mattei Plan, backed by Rome, to curb illegal migration from Africa while positioning Italy as a key energy hub. During her visit, Meloni also travelled to Benghazi to meet with Benghazi-based military commander Khalifa Haftar, in line with Italy’s ongoing commitment to engage with all Libyan stakeholders.
The discussions between Meloni and Haftar included Italian initiatives in agriculture and healthcare, with a particular focus on the Cyrenaica region affected by last year’s devastating floods.
Meloni reiterated Italy’s readiness to contribute, through the expertise of its private sector, to the reconstruction efforts in Derna, which suffered significant damage from the floods.
Furthermore, Meloni expressed appreciation for the progress achieved through bilateral cooperation in migration management and stressed the importance of intensifying efforts to combat human trafficking, both regionally and within the scope of Italy’s G7 presidency.