At the Joint Committee for Development Cooperation, chaired this morning by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani, a new initiative was presented aimed at combating irregular migration through the improvement and development of assisted voluntary returns from Algeria, Libya, and Tunisia to countries of origin. To underline the close collaboration between the Italian Foreign Ministry and the Italian Ministry of the Interior, the Minister of the Interior, Matteo Piantedosi, was also in attendance.
The project, developed following the mission of the Italian cooperation system to West Africa in May 2024 at Minister Tajani’s initiative, has been allocated a budget of €20 million. It will be implemented in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), ensuring the protection of migrants while respecting human rights.
The initiative is structured around two main components. The first, managed by the Ministry of the Interior, focuses on strengthening the institutional and administrative capacities of partner countries, involving over 400 officials engaged in this sector. The second is aimed at directly benefiting approximately 3,300 of the most vulnerable migrants, ensuring their return to their countries of origin in a sustainable and effective manner.
The Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) will provide the necessary technical support for the implementation of activities and oversee their monitoring. Furthermore, AICS has been tasked with preparing an additional initiative in the coming months, focusing on the socio-economic reintegration of returning migrants. This initiative will leverage the capabilities of Italian businesses and civil society organisations in a synergistic approach, thus complementing the programme launched today by the Italian Foreign Ministry and the Italian Ministry of the Interior in collaboration with IOM.
