„There is a solid understanding between Tunisia and Italy in matters of fight against illegal immigration. We think that there is no problem to forge ahead on the path of integration and opening of the frontiers. We only need to discuss these issues more thoroughly,“ Italy’s Interior Minister Maria Cancellieri said on Thursday in Tunis.
„Our policy rests on respect of human rights. Nonetheless, when it comes to border control and security, we are very firm and we hope to work together with our Tunisian friends on the issue,“ she added at the end of her meeting with Foreign Minister Rafik Abdessalem.
The meeting allowed to review the situation of the missing illegal Tunisian emigrants and to examine an Italian project on people’s movement.
The Tunisian side requested, on the occasion, the renewal of the residence visa granted by the Italian authorities to more than 8,000 Tunisian nationals who had illegally migrated to Italy after the Revolution.
Last year, Italy issued temporary residence permits to thousands of illegal Tunisian emigrants in Lampedusa Island. Those were 3-month renewable „Schengen“ visas.
About ten women, relatives of illegal Tunisian emigrants in Italy, gathered on Thursday morning in front the Foreign Ministry to request information about the missing members of their families.
