Irregular migration from Tunisia to Italy has significantly decreased, from hundreds of thousands of illegal migrants in 2023 to fewer than 30,000 in 2024 and 4,000 in 2025, said Italian Ambassador to Tunisia, Alessandro Prunas.
Speaking on Expresso, he emphasized that migration is a central issue, but it should not be limited to the topic of illegal migration.
He added that it is a subject “that should be discussed as a whole, Italy and Europe both need labor and skilled workers. The goal is to find the best way to regulate this issue in order to provide real opportunities for people who have the necessary skills.”
Prunas explained that irregular migration often leads to tragedies and praised the joint efforts of Italian and Tunisian maritime authorities, which have helped reduce the number of deaths at sea.
He noted that Italian law allows for regular migration under certain conditions: “We have launched many training programs necessary for migration to Italy.”
He went on to say that in 2024, Italy granted 8,000 work visas — “a number that far exceeds illegal arrivals in Italy. This has encouraged people wishing to try their luck in Italy to do so legally. Italian companies have significantly increased their interest in Tunisia.”
He also cautioned against depriving Tunisia of all its talent, noting that “economically, that would be a problem.” He added that Italy has simultaneously funded Italian cooperation programs worth 8 million euros to provide training for people involved in Italian investments in Tunisia.
