Tunisian and French prime ministers meet

Fight against terrorism, illegal immigration and stabilisation in Libya and Middle East, were among the main topics discussed between the Tunisian and French prime ministers on Thursday during the visit of the French delegation to the North African country.

Jean Castex met Tunisian President Kais Saied and later with his counterpart Hichem Mechichi in the capital of the country, where both delegations signed several agreements.

"I recalled the need, for France as well as for its European partners, to strengthen cooperation with Tunisia in the area of migration and in particular the indispensable control of irregular migration flows" said Castex during a joint news conference in Tunis.

Illegal migration is one of the main concerns of the European Union and has been on the top of the negotiations between Europe and several African countries.

On Tuesday, just one day before the arrival of the French PM, two fragile boats loaded with migrants, one that pushed off from Libya, foundered off the coast of Tunisia, and two bodies were recovered and as many as 20 others disappeared, officials said on Wednesday.

The local office of the International Organization for Migration said that 20 people disappeared or died in the two separate incidents on Tuesday.

The incidents were the latest in a series involving migrants trying to make their way to Europe who were rescued, drowned or disappeared off the coast of the North African country.

Hichem Mechichi, the Tunisian Prime Minister, said that it was necessary for an "integrated" approach to manage an organised migration.

Increase in cooperation to fight against terrorism and to work for the stabilisation in Libya and the Middle East were also on the table during the meeting between the French and Tunisian authorities.

France also reiterated its promise to help Tunisia in the fight against the COVID-19 and to support the economic reforms needed to overcome the crisis deepened by the pandemic.

Thursday was the last of the two days visit to the North African country, where the French delegation also met with businessmen from both countries.