Italy and Libya will work together on illegal immigration and renewable energies, Prime Minister Mario Draghi and Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah told reporters during a joint press conference after meeting on Monday.
Libya is a “large-scale energy partner” of Italy in terms of fossil fuels “but we also want to start cooperation in the field of renewable energies,” the Italian leader said.
Draghi said the two leaders also discussed “humanitarian and migration issues, the fight against human traffickers, refugee aid, humanitarian corridors, and the development of rural communities.”
For his part, the Libyan prime minister expressed his satisfaction at the “excellent bilateral relations” between the two countries, which are “reinforced by mutual goodwill.”
“We will tackle illegal immigration together, along with other European countries, and the countries of origin of the illegal immigrants,” the Libyan prime minister said.
“The immigration problem cannot be solved in the Mediterranean alone, but should be tackled by going to the roots of the problem, which is not just a Libyan or Italian responsibility, but a common one,” he said.
Dbeibah said Libya wishes to “increase trade relations with Italy and to work on renewable energies as well as the reconstruction of Libya.”
“Italy could play an essential and primary role as an investor in Libya,” he said.