The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani, is in Ankara today, 13 January 2023, to meet Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu. The mission, which will provide an opportunity to take stock of bilateral relations– in particular of the solid cooperation in the economic sphere, and to discuss the most pressing regional and international issues– is part of the Italian Government’s broader strategy to strengthen cooperation with the main countries in the enlarged Mediterranean and foster greater collaboration in the management of migrants.

“The Government is working to solve the migration issue", commented Deputy Prime Minister Tajani. “A strong commitment is needed from the countries in the area to counter the irregular departures of migrants and encourage more returns. Today, Minister Çavuşoğlu and I will discuss not only the Eastern Mediterranean route, through which many migrants arrive in Europe via the Balkans, but also Libya, which –together with Tunisia– is the other major departure basin". 

A joint press-conference is planned at the end of the meeting.