First hitch in the contract signed in July between Tunisia and the European Union (EU) on the sensitive issue of migrants. Kaïs Saïed, the Tunisian President, declared, Monday evening, October 2, that his country refused the funds allocated by Brussels, the “derisory” amount of which goes against the understanding between the two parties.
The European Commission announced on September 22 that it would begin to “rapidly” allocate the funds provided under the agreement with Tunisia in order to reduce the arrivals of migrants from this country. The Commission specified that of the 105 million euros in aid provided for in this agreement to combat irregular immigration, some 42 million euros would be “allocated quickly”. To which must be added 24.7 million euros already planned as part of ongoing programs.
“Tunisia, which accepts cooperation, does not accept anything that resembles charity or favor, because our country and our people do not want sympathy and do not accept it when it is without respect,” states a press release from the Tunisian presidency. “Consequently, Tunisia rejects what has been announced in recent days by the EU,” said Mr. Saïed who received his Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nabil Ammar.
He explained that this refusal was not linked to the “insignificant amount (…) but because this proposal goes against” the agreement signed in Tunis and “the spirit which reigned during the conference of Rome”, in July.
Additional aid of 150 million euros
Tunisia is, along with Libya, the main departure point for thousands of migrants crossing the central Mediterranean towards Europe, and arriving in Italy.
According to the European Commission, the aid must be used in part to rehabilitate boats used by the Tunisian coast guard and to cooperate with international organizations both for the “protection of migrants” and for return operations. of these exiles from Tunisia to their countries of origin.
This memorandum of understanding between Tunisia and the EU also provides for direct budgetary aid of 150 million euros in 2023 as the country faces serious economic difficulties. Finally, Mr. Saïed added that his country “is doing everything possible to dismantle criminal networks of human trafficking.”