Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani, has said migrant departures from Libya have increased in recent months. He made this known after meeting Libya’s Prime Minister, Abdulhameed Mohamed Dbeibah, during talks held in Misrata on January 18. Migration was the main issue discussed by both leaders.
Tajani said immigration directly affects both countries because Libya and Italy are transit points for migrants heading to Europe. He noted that Italy wants to strengthen its cooperation with Libya to better manage the situation. According to him, Italy is ready to support Libya through training its police and working with both departure and transit countries, such as Bangladesh and Qatar.
The Italian foreign minister stressed that both governments share the same goal of fighting irregular migration and stopping human traffickers. He explained that these criminal networks are often involved in other crimes, including arms and drug trafficking, which makes the situation even more dangerous.
Talks also covered the wider situation in sub-Saharan Africa. Tajani said instability in the region is worrying because it increases the risks of terrorism and irregular migration. He added that the ongoing war in Sudan was an important part of the discussions, as thousands of people are fleeing the conflict, creating new migration flows towards North Africa and Europe.
Tajani said Italy wants to continue working closely with Libya to improve stability in the country. He explained that political stability is very important, not only for migration control but also for economic cooperation. As Italy’s Minister of International Trade, he noted that Italian companies also play a role in foreign policy and regional stability.
During the visit, Tajani attended the signing of a partnership agreement involving the Misrata Free Zone, Terminal Investment Limited of the MSC Group, and the Al Maha Qatari Company. The agreement aims to expand the container terminal at Misrata port using modern infrastructure, strengthening Italy’s presence and economic interests in Libya.
According to Italian data, 58,408 migrants arrived in Italy from Libya last year. This represents a 38 percent increase compared to 42,279 arrivals recorded in 2024. Migrants from Libya made up 88 percent of all sea arrivals in Italy, which totaled 66,296.
Why is Italy focusing so much on Libya?
Italy sees Libya as a key transit country for migrants and believes that stronger cooperation, security support, and economic stability in Libya can help reduce irregular migration and human trafficking.