Hardline interior minister Matteo Salvini on Thursday said he supports "limited and qualified immigration" from Tunisia. But the government's first priority is stemming the recent influx of illegal migrants and to help create jobs for Tunisians at home, he said.
"Once illegal mass immigration has been stopped, an objective we all share - and are prepared to work towards with any country that wants to work with us - is limited and qualified immigration which will add value to our country," Salvini told reporters during a visit to Tunis.
"I support the creation of channels of migration that are legal, controlled and positive," Salvini said during a press conference after talks with his Tunisian counterpart Hichem Fourati.
Many young Tunisians want a brighter future and want to obtain this in a legal way, Salvini said.
"If there is high youth unemployment, people will are more likely to try to leave. We need to work on development and jobs," he said.
"The Italian government's primary objective is to help these young people to have a better future at home. We are fully at Tunisia's disposal to work together for peaceful development, he said.
Italy will seek to aid Tunisia's economic growth "with the contribution of business people and the government," Salvini stated.
Until now the Italian government's goal has been "to stop the hundreds of thousands of uncontrolled arrivals in recent years," Salvini underlined.
Human traffickers have been increasingly using Tunisia as a launch pad for migrants heading to Europe since a crackdown spearheaded by Libyan coast guard. Salvini is seeking to speed up expulsions of Tunisian migrants from Italy - their main landing point.
Many Tunisian migrants claim they are fleeing high unemployment and inflation amid an economic crisis that began after the 2011 ousting of autocratic president Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali.
