Italy–Tunisia relations are foreign relations between the Italian Republic and the Republic of Tunisia. Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1957. Italy has an embassy in Tunis and 3 honorary consulates (in Bizerte, Sfax and Sousse). Tunisia has an embassy in Rome, a general consulate in Palermo, 3 consulates (in Genoa, Milan, and Naples) and 2 honorary consulates (in Bari and Novara).
Both countries are full members of the Union for the Mediterranean. There was an important Italian community living in Tunisia before independence. There is a Tunisian community in Italy; in the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy Tunisia was one of the few nations to send army doctors to Italy.
Migratory relations Italy–Tunisia
Since the Unification of Italy, there has been a considerable migration of Italians to Tunisia. Today in Tunisia there are a lot of Italian communities. Conversely, the presence of Tunisians in Italy dates back to the 1980s.
In Tunisia the economic and political crisis is relevant. The year 2015 was marked by terrorist attacks. With these attacks Tunisia economic growth was limited, especially in tourism, one of the main sectors. In 2020 the economic crisis increased with COVID-19 pandemic.
To create agreements and collaborations about immigration, development and support for the Tunisian population in their country there are ongoing Negotiations between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Tunisia and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy.
In March 2021, a bilateral agreement was signed. In August 2020 ministers Luigi Di Maio and Luciana Lamorgese visited Tunisia and the aim of the visit was to reaffirm the joint commitment to a strong EU-Tunisia partnership, covering political and economic relations as well as cooperation in the field of migration. In 2020, also, there was an agreement between Italy and the European Union for migration flows .
Economic relations
The geographical proximity and the free access to the European market by Tunisia make commercial relations between the two countries quite stable.
Trade in 2020 was around 4.5 billion euros. Italy is the second supplier of the North African country, after France, with a market share of about 15% in 2020 and is its second customer.
The presence of Italian companies in Tunisia is strong with 426 active Italian companies which employ 8,836 people. They account for almost a third of all foreign-owned companies in Tunisia.
Fiscal agreement
Double tax agreements (1979)
On 16 May 1979, in Tunis, the Government of the Italian Republic and the Government of the Tunisian Republic signed the Convention to avoid double taxation in the field of income taxes and to prevent tax evasion.
Bilateral investment treaty (1985)
The Bilateral investment treaty between Italy and Tunisia was signed in Rome on 17 October 1985. This treaty establishes the terms and conditions for private investments by citizens and companies of a state in the territory of the other country.
Energy cooperation
In the context of energy cooperation, the presence of the Transmed gas pipeline is significant. It crosses the Mediterranean and Tunisia connects Italy to the Algerian gas fields.
On 30 November 2016, during the "Tunisia 2020" international conference, Eni and the Tunisian state company ETAP signed a further cooperation agreement for the development of energy generation projects from renewable sources.
On 2 May 2019, as part of the first Italy-Tunisia intergovernmental summit, held in Tunis, the vice-premier and minister of economic development, Luigi Di Maio, signed an agreement with the Tunisian minister of industry, Slim Feriani. The agreement concerns the construction of a submarine power line between Italy and Tunisia co-financed by the European Union and the energy companies Terna and STEG.
On 2 July 2019 in Tunis, the Minister of Industry Slim Feriani and the CEO of ENI Claudio Descalzi signed a new agreement in the presence of the Prime Minister of Tunisia Youssef Chahed. It extends cooperation for the transit of Algerian natural gas through Tunisia until 2029.