Brussels, 11/07/2012 (Agence Europe) - After a two-day visit to Tunis, Tunisia, on Tuesday 9 and Wednesday 10 July 2012, EU Commissioner Stefan Füle said at a press conference that he had suggested opening talks on a number of trade agreements, such as agricultural products, investment and services.
At the press conference, Fule set out the EU's expectations of the Tunisian government and said the expectations should enable a door to be opened for Tunisian farm products to the vast EU market and facilitation of investment in the EU in return for signing farm and services trade deals. Tunisia has to date been reluctant to sign services agreements.
The Commissioner described the Open Sky Agreement on aviation, which Tunisia is resisting for fear of its national airline being hit by low-cost European airlines. Fule said it would help breathe new life into Tunisian business and tourism and hoped the country would soon be returning to the negotiating table. Talks have been postponed twice already this year.
Füle said that the EU wanted to set up a mobility partnership to facilitate the movement of individuals and said that the experience of his own country (Czechoslovakia) and other European nations could be valuable in ensring a successful democratic transition in full respect of freedom. (FB/transl.fl)