Rome— Both Libya and Italy have agreed that “assisted voluntary repatriation” of migrants from Libya to their homelands would be an “effective solution,” according to a statement by the Italian Interior Ministry on Thursday.
The Libyan Interior Minister Imad Trabelsi held a meeting with his Italian counterpart Matteo Piantedosi in Rome and discussed “the latest developments in the illegal immigration file and the challenges associated with it,” a statement by the Libyan interior ministry said.
They also discussed ways to strengthening security cooperation and joint coordination to combat the problem according to a “comprehensive vision that reflects the commitment of both countries and relevant to regional and international efforts,” the statement said.
Piantedosi and Trabelsi said the UN International Organization for Migration (IOM) and refugee agency UNHCR are among crucial international partners that can help in assisted voluntary repatriations from Libya, according to the Italian statement as quoted by Aki agency.
Libya and Italy have long been at the frontline of illegal immigration to Europe and the focus of Piantedosi and Trabelsi’s talks was an exchange of views on shared strategies to fight the scourge, it added.