Approved during the signing of an agreement in principle on July 16 in Tunis for a new “Partnership” with Brussels, the payment of these 150 million euros will go directly to the Tunisian Public Treasury.
The European Union (EU) has released financial aid, crucial for Tunisia, of 150 million euros, the Tunisian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the European Commission announced on December 20. This financing aims to “support the efforts” of Tunisia “to promote the recovery of the economy through the improvement of the management of public finances and the business and investment climate”, according to a press release issued by the two parties
This aid was agreed upon during the signing of an agreement in principle on July 16 in Tunis for a new “Partnership” between the EU and Tunisia, which also included an important component of the fight against irregular immigration.
The Tunisian state, which devotes a good part of its resources to repaying debt of around 80% of its GDP, has a pressing need for liquidity to finance the purchase of subsidized products, such as milk, flour, rice, or household oil, which are experiencing chronic shortages.
Restitution
The aid will consist of a “direct financial transfer to the Tunisian public treasury”, according to the press release, which confirms the desire for “implementation” of the other components (energy, student exchange) in a “partnership of equals “.
At the beginning of October, a dispute broke out between Brussels and Tunis, which had returned funding of 60 million euros to the EU, an unprecedented approach for a partner country, according to Brussels.
The Tunisian President, Kaïs Saïed, said he rejected the EU’s “charity” and assured that the sum had been paid “without the Tunisian authorities having been informed in advance”, denouncing an “attack on dignity” from his country. The funds were in reality planned as part of a post-Covid recovery aid program, unrelated to the July protocol, which also includes aid of 105 million euros to Tunisia to fight against irregular immigration.
The migration aspect is the subject of controversy, including between European countries, linked to concerns about attacks on the rights of migrants in Tunisia. According to a report published Monday by the World Organization Against Torture (OMCT), migrants from sub-Saharan Africa in Tunisia live in “undignified” conditions and are subject to “arbitrary arrests, forced displacement and illegal expulsions.” towards the borders with Libya and Algeria. More than 8,500 have been expelled since June, according to figures communicated to AFP by international humanitarian sources.
