Brussels, 10/01/2014 (Agence Europe) - Tunisia and the EU, in this case the European Commission, are expected to meet at the negotiating table again in coming weeks to discuss an Open Sky air transport agreement. The date has not yet been set but time must be given to the new government being formed to take up the dossiers (after the current head of government presented his resignation on Thursday 9 January).
Technical consultation meetings were held during December 2013 on the Open Sky agreement. According to unofficial sources, this allowed the question of support for the Tunisian air transport sector to be tackled first and foremost, in order to prevent any injury that the sector might incur as a result of European competition on a liberalised market.
It is believed that the Tunisian government has set several conditions: - preservation of what Tunisia achieved in the context of bilateral agreements concluded with European countries during the last 50 years; - the guarantee of a balance between the two contracting parties; - and, finally, the commitment of the European side to the upgrading of Tunisia's civil aviation.
The government has already announced its intention to develop a plan to support restructuring, according to local media reports, in particular through the provision of incentives to operate in secondary airports. The national airports, including that of the capital, are said to have reached full capacity (5 million passengers in 2013, official sources say).
At the same time, voices have been raised to state that such an agreement would be untimely. In addition to the impact that the agreement would have on the aviation sector, there is the general fear that Tunisia, a country still in political ferment, will have to make undue concessions. This, moreover, is the case for all negotiations under way (in particular those on trade and advanced status). According to comments made, it would be more “honourable” on the part of the EU to wait until its partner - which is less well armed than itself on the political, administrative and economic levels - regains its balance and sets out along the road to growth and good management.
The smooth and imminent adoption of the constitution should pave the way to holding general elections at the end of 2014. A major milestone would thus have been reached: the designation of an independent body for organising the elections to which the EU has promised to provide substantial but as yet unspecified support. Well-informed sources say that European aid desired would be more effective if it were to the benefit of the country's political and economic recovery - with sufficient macro-economic support - and not for seeking sectoral concessions on the part of a country whose negotiating capacity is currently very reduced. (FB/transl.jl)