Brussels, 22/05/2014 (Agence Europe) - The Franco-German proposal of convening a “conference of the donors” (or “roundtable of the friends of Tunisia”; the name has not yet been decided upon) could take shape. This announcement was made at a symbolic joint visit of the foreign ministers of France and Germany on 24 and 25 April.
The EU as such was not initially involved in this Franco-German initiative, which adds to announcements made bilaterally by several member states to write off the Tunisian debt. However, it will be a stakeholder in the conference to take place either in Paris or, more symbolically, in Tunisia, in a remote region affected by the current crisis.
A coordinator has been appointed in the person of the former Tunisian ambassador to Brussels and negotiator of the country's association agreement, Tahar Sioud. The work has started jointly with France and, soon, with Berlin and Brussels, according to a reliable source.
This first phase will serve to identify the stakeholders and the themes. The question of the financial support sought by Tunisia to plug its budgetary deficit will not, however, be the only subject up for discussion. The main issue will be the measures to be taken to ensure a sustainable recovery of the country's economy and also to restore and increase its capacity to receive foreign investment.
These prospects come as part of the cooperation already in place under the association agreement with the EU, in the form either of budgetary support or EIB loans, or through the EBRD. New prospects have been announced at a Maghreb level. (FB)