Tunisia and the European Union sign a “strategic partnership” on the economy and migration policy

The European Union and Tunisia signed, on Sunday July 16, in Tunis, a memorandum of understanding for a “comprehensive strategic partnership”. It focuses on the fight against irregular immigration, renewable energies and the economic development of this Maghreb country. The migration issue is important for both parties because Tunisia is the point of departure for thousands of migrants crossing the Mediterranean to Europe.

The Italian heads of government Giorgia Meloni and Dutch Mark Rutte accompanied the European leader after a first visit a month ago by the trio, during which they had proposed this partnership. It’s about “a new important step to deal with the migration crisis in an integrated way”, defended Giorgia Meloni, who invited Tunisian President Kais Saied, present at his side, to participate next Sunday in Rome in a summit on migration. The latter spoke in turn to insist on the part of the agreement relating to “the rapprochement between peoples”.

“Model for the establishment of new relations with North Africa”

The partnership between Tunisia and the European Union (EU) provides aid of 105 million euros to fight against irregular immigration and budgetary aid of 150 million euros while Tunisia, “can be seen as a model for establishing new relations with North Africa”according to Georgia Meloni.

Mark Rutte, he felt that “the agreement will benefit both the European Union and the Tunisian people”, recalling that the EU is Tunisia’s leading trading partner and its leading investor. On immigration, he assured that the agreement will allow “better control irregular immigration”.