Brussels, 10/07/2012 (Agence Europe) - During a visit to Tunisia, European Neighbourhood Policy Commissioner Stefan Füle concluded two financial agreements with the government on Monday 9 July. The first agreement focuses on providing support to civil society and the second consists of a programme to boost the competitiveness of businesses in the country.
According to a report by the official TAP news agency, the commissioner met the prime minister and members of the government and affirmed the EU's support for the political transition process in the country. A new partnership action plan was proposed to Tunisia. Last October shortly before the first free elections and as part of the special EU task force meeting in the country, Tunisia worked out what the technical detail of European support and the conditions relating to this support. A second meeting to put these commitments into practice is due to take place but no date has as yet been fixed. The EU, and in particular its ambassador in Tunis, have clearly said that the EU's financial commitment would depend on remaining restrictions on freedom being removed. The government would certainly appear to be making an effort to improve its image but the democratic opposition suspects it of double standards and doublespeak, whilst failing to take firm action to ensure security. For example, certain bodies in charge of reform and democratising the media decided themselves to wind up their organisations, as a means of underlining the difficulties facing them in their tasks and the lack of good faith on the part of the authorities in the country.
The two financial agreements signed on Monday appear to correspond to the reservation noted in the European attitude. The first agreement, worth €7 million, focuses on civil society but does not propose direct support to the authorities. The EU explained that this agreement “aims to enhance Tunisian civil society's contribution to political and economic dialogue, consolidation of the rule of law, democratisation and socio-economic development. This programme will be steered by a committee chaired by an independent individual and made up of representatives from civil society”.
The second agreement is directly aimed at economic operators experiencing serious difficulties in the current context in which the effects of the global economic crisis are compounded by the consequences of the economic and social upheaval that has gripped the country since the “revolution” of 14 January 2011 and the subsequent climate of instability and insecurity, made worse by the wait-and-see attitude of the government in the face of mounting action on the part of “salafists”. This agreement contains an envelope of €20 million, which is not reimbursable and aims to “consolidate the competitiveness of businesses in the Tunisian services sector (around 400 companies) particularly those that have been set up in the regions. It also aims to enhance the capacity of representative organisations in the sector, as well as improve the entrepreneurial environment of the sector and increase its capacity for job creation”.
In comments reported by the local press, Commissioner Füle said: “I proposed launching and creating a new series of agreements in the agriculture, investment, services and tourism sectors, in view of developing more Tunisian labels and access to European markets, as well as encouraging more European businesses to invest in Tunisia and increase the flow of tourism and the mobility of people in both directions”. He also pointed out that the EU had earmarked €400 million, in addition to supplementary assistance, to support socio-economic development programmes in Tunisia for the 2011-2013 period. (FB/transl.fl)