Egypt could become a hotspot for migrants crossing the Mediterranean to Europe, foreign minister Antonio Tajani warned on Wednesday, saying he hoped it would not become "the new Tunisia".
"On the issue of migration, I hope Egypt doesn't become the new Tunisia," Tajani told SkyTg24.
"Egypt is a key country in the flight against illegal immigration," Tajani underlined.
Italy has asked Egypt's help to stem a growing influx of boat migrants and in battling people traffickers, Tajani said on Tuesday in Cairo, where he held talks with the country's president Abel Fattah al-Sisi, premier Mostafa Madbouly and other ministers.
Italy said in February that over 32,000 people, including 18,000 Tunisians, reached its shores from Tunisia last year.
A total 105,129 migrants landed in Italy in 2022, according to interior ministry figures.
