Brussels, 20/06/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 20 June, European Commission President José Manuel Barroso hosted Tunisia's Prime Minister Mehdi Jomaa in Brussels. During a press conference, the two men reaffirmed their determination to make a success of the democratic transition currently under way in Tunisia. The Tunisians called for more determined commitment in the process and said the EU should bring well-studied support to Tunisia's efforts.
Most of the decision depends on the Tunisians, stated Barroso. He said Jomaa wanted Europe to “do more”. Jomaa did not, however, obtain any further concrete commitment. Barroso asked what more could be done and he listed all the aid already decided upon (calculated at €200 million for the 2011-2013 period). He also spoke of the commitments taken by the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
Barroso essentially said that the EU was making an appreciable effort, given the limits of the European budget. In Barroso's view, most of the effort to be made by the EU should focus more on the long term in order to consolidate a political experience on the southern shores of the Mediterranean that he described as exemplary - especially for the neighbouring countries, and he mentioned Libya explicitly. Jomaa invited Barroso to participate in the Friends of Tunisia conference (known as Start-up Tunisia) which will take place in Tunis in September. Barroso welcomed this initiative and promised to be ready to mobilise as much as possible but he said that this process first required Tunisia to identify the priorities. (FB)