Brussels, 20/12/2011 (Agence Europe) - The European Union has announced that it has released a first tranche of €55 million to Tunisia, a donation to the country which has just celebrated the first year of its “revolution”. Tunisia is the first country in the Arab world to put in place democratic institutions and will shortly announce the formation of a coalition government.
The European donation was released as part of the Economic Recovery Programme (ERP) in Tunisia, which was signed in September of this year. The ERP was devised in the first few weeks after the revolution. It has a total budget of €100 million and is a direct back-up to the state budget, to help Tunisia carry out short-term initiatives and more structural reforms during the transition period. The programme brings on board several international players, namely the European Union, the World Bank, the African Development Bank and the French Development Agency, and provides a total financial contribution worth €1 billion. In addition to its gifts, the EU also provides European Investment Bank (EIB) loans.
This €55 million tranche has been released at what is judged to be an opportune time - the new institutions have been put in place following the elections of 23 October - and to mark the moment when “Tunisia has entered a decisive phase for its transition policy”, in the words of Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Commissioner Stefan Füle in an article which has been carried by the Tunisian media.
The EU “welcomes the outcome of the recent democratic elections”, he said, affirming that “the responsibility that lies with the new Tunisian authorities is great and the EU looks forward to opening dialogue and cooperation with the new Tunisian government. I believe that the country's new situation will allow us to have open and frank dialogue with the Tunisian authorities on all subjects of common interest. Unlike in the past, we will be able to discuss all issues with no taboos and freely express any possible differences in viewpoints”. (FB/transl.rt)