EU leaders in talks aimed at restoring stability in Tunisia

Italian premier Girogia Meloni, left, and EU president Ursula von der Leyen are among those attending the talks in Tunis (Michele Nucci/LaPresse/AP)

Tunisia is hosting the leaders of Italy, the Netherlands and the European Union for talks aimed at smoothing the way for an international bailout and restoring stability to a country that has become a major source of migration to Europe.

Tunisia’s increasingly autocratic president is balking at conditions for £1.5 billion in stalled International Monetary Fund support, which include cuts to subsidies on flour and fuel, cuts to the large public administration sector, and the privatisation of loss-making public companies.