Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at the G7 summit session in Hiroshima, Japan, called for the inclusion of the African Union among the participants of the G20 group.
"Many of us have already supported the request of the African Union to join the G20. Italy is definitely in favor. I think it would be a good sign to express our support at this summit," Meloni said.
The Italian prime minister also criticized the International Monetary Fund for its tough stance on Tunisia.
"Tunisia is in a very difficult situation and is experiencing obvious political instability and the risk of financial default. We have blocked negotiations between the International Monetary Fund and Tunisia. There is a certain rigidity of the IMF […] I believe that the approach should be pragmatic, because otherwise we risk worsening the situation that has been violated," Meloni said.
Tunisia is the main departure point for migrants who arrive in Italy via the Mediterranean Sea. According to the latest data from the Italian Interior Ministry, 45,000 migrants have already arrived in the country by sea since January 1. In 2022, over the same period of time, this figure amounted to 17,100 people.