Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and a delegation of several Italian ministers and officials met for talks with their Libyan counterparts in Tripoli and Benghazi on Tuesday (May 7).

Sources close to the Italian government told the European news portal Euractiv that migration topped Meloni’s list of priorities during the visit.

Meloni reportedly stressed to her Libyan counterparts the importance of the two countries continuing their cooperation, which she said has already produced "significant results".

Meloni met with the Prime Minister of the Government of National Unity in Tripoli, Abdul Rahman Dabaiba; General Khalifa Haftar, who holds sway in the east of the country and National Unity President Mohamed Yunus Al Menfi.

Regional cooperation to fight human trafficking

During the talks, Meloni invited Libyan officials to take part in a working group known as the "Rome Process," Euractiv reports.

The group was launched last summer and aims to coordinate collective action on migration policy by combatting the causes of migration -- like conflict and economic difficulties -- as well as climate change and human trafficking.

The official visit was "kept secret until the night before it happened", according to Italian daily newspaper Il Foglio. That may have been due to Meloni’s intent to meet with General Haftar and his governing structures, which are not recognized by the UN, the paper reported.

The newspaper added that Meloni was seeking to obtain guarantees the Libyan leaders would more strictly control migrant departures from Libyan ports.

Stabilization of Libya and a de-escalation of the conflict between rival factions in the country would also help calm clandestine migration towards Europe, Meloni reportedly expressed.

Continuing commitment to working together in various sectors

According to an Italian government press release following the visit, Meloni sought to underline her country's commitment to working with Libya "in all areas of common interest" and building a partnership "based on equality and concrete projects, in particular in the sectors of energy and infrastructure."

Italy has long spearheaded relations with Libya and other North African countries on behalf of the EU.

The two countries already have a series of bilateral agreements in place that include funding to Libya for migration management and infrastructure projects.

The Italian delegation visited the Government of National Unity in the capital Tripoli first, then traveled to Benghazi to meet with General Haftar, who heads a rival structure with power in parts of the east of the country.

"During the visit, Italian officials signed declarations of intent, promising cooperation in the fields of universities and research, health, sport, and young people, all within the framework of the Mattei plan for Africa," the Italian government press release said.

Meeting with rival faction

In Benghazi, Meloni discussed agriculture and health with Field Marshall Haftar. She reportedly expressed Italy's willingness to help with rebuilding projects following floods that hit cities like Derna last year in eastern Libya.

Meloni told Libyan officials that Italy "appreciated the results reached through cooperation over migration."

She said she intends to intensify efforts already made in fighting human trafficking across the region, adding that she plans to use Italy’s rotating presidency of the G7 to further push these aims.

Italian government data shows that in the first few months of 2024, there has been a significant reduction in the number of migrants leaving Libya and crossing the Mediterranean towards Italy compared to the same period in 2023.

About 10,000 fewer migrants crossed in the first part of this year compared to the same period last year.

Some migration experts, however, say that some of the migrants leaving Libya are now headed for Greek islands instead of Italy, which they say would explain the increase in the numbers arriving in Greece compared to previous years, Euractiv reports.

NGO: Italy and EU complicit in 'violating human rights'

While the Italian delegation was in Libya, NGOs like Mediterranea Saving Humans called for Italy and the EU to stop financing "Libyan militias,” saying this support made Italy and Europe "complicit in violating human rights."

Writing on the platform X (formerly known as Twitter) on May 7, the NGO stated: "In the next few hours, the Italian parliament will approve once again shameful finances intended for the Libyan regime, in return for the capture and detention of migrants in Libya, to prevent them from requesting asylum in Europe."

Mediterranea Saving Humans added that a renewal of the 2017 pact between Italy and Libya has resulted in the "condemnation to death and torture and suffering of every kind to thousands of women, men and children."

Meloni’s visit follows similar meetings by Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, who in the last few weeks has met with his counterparts in Libya, Tunisia and Algeria to discuss Italian support for their commitment to fighting human trafficking via various regional initiatives.