EU: To assist with finances and stop migration, the EU may provide Tunisia with over €1 billion in aid
By Ahmad Hadizat Omayoza, Mamos Nigeria
Ursula von der Leyen, president of the EU Commission, stated on Sunday that the European Union is considering providing more than €1 billion (£850 million) in aid to Tunisia in order to address the migration crisis and save the state’s finances.
Von der Leyen stated that €900 million would be used for macrofinancial assistance and that €150 million would be used immediately to support a reform
agenda established by the International Monetary Fund.
Without providing any specifics, she stated that this might be ready “as soon as the necessary agreement is found.”
A further €105 million will be invested in a new partnership with Tunisia to combat people-smuggling, human trafficking, and the ongoing tragedies at sea as part of the €1 billion package.
The EU boss was visiting Tunisia alongside the Italian and Dutch top state leaders, Giorgia Meloni and Imprint Rutte, who are quick to work out an organization agreement with the north African country to stem movement and human sneaking to Europe.
Meloni is in the country for the second time in a week.
The EU, as other significant benefactors to Tunisia, has up to this point molded its help on the nation concluding a credit program with the IMF, yet President Kais Saied has dismissed key changes expected by that arrangement.
He also rebuffed a refugee partnership modeled after Turkey on Saturday, stating that Turkey would not serve as Europe’s border guard.
The European Union is concerned that Europe will face an even greater increase in the number of irregular migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean this summer if the economic crisis in Tunisia worsens.
According to Saied, his government’s proposal to the IMF to reduce subsidies and restructure state-owned businesses in order to reassure lenders that they would be reimbursed ran the risk of starting a social uprising. The negotiation of any new agreement based on various proposed reforms could take months more.
Meloni has demanded that the IMF relax the loan’s terms. She stated on Sunday that a joint declaration had already been signed by Tunisia and the EU, which she praised as a significant step “towards the creation of a real partnership.”
She said there was “a significant open door” to settle the guide understanding before the European Gathering toward the finish of June. It was not satisfactory if Tunisia could in any case have to finish its IMF program to qualify.
The EU presented the specifics of a partnership program that would strengthen economic and trade ties with Tunisia on Sunday. These details include a comprehensive air transport agreement that could benefit tourism and a €150 million “Medusa” digital cable link to Europe that could benefit research and education in the country, according to the EU.
Additionally, it signed a renewable energy memorandum of understanding.
Von der Leyen said that the EU would also make it easier for young Tunisians to study, work, and get trained in the EU to help them learn skills that could help the Tunisian economy.
The Tunisian agreement comes just three days after EU member states agreed to major changes to Italy’s proposed migration laws that would allow Italy to deport economic migrants to countries like Tunisia if a deal was made that allowed for these returns.
