Brussels 14/07/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 14 July, Tunisia and the European Commission began consultations in preparation of the “start-up for democracy” donors' conference in Tunis on 8 September.
The designated Tunisian coordinator, former ambassador Tahar Sioud, will be in Brussels from Monday until Wednesday for talks with the European Commission and the EIB. These discussions will form part of preparations for a “strategic note” outlining Tunisia's expectations and providing guidelines for the support the international community will bring to Tunisia. Similar talks have taken place with France, which co-chairs the preparatory work being undertaken. The note is expected to be finalised by the end of the month, in order to take into account October's elections.
The initiative of the French and German ministers for foreign affairs, Laurent Fabius and Frank-Walter Steinmeier, was launched during their symbolic joint visit on 24-25 April to Tunisia. The stated aim of the initiative is to “accompany this country, which was one of the initial countries to embark on the Arab Spring and which has today adopted a constitution and is on track towards economic recovery”. The subject was subsequently addressed at the end of June in Brussels by the head of the Tunisian government, Mehdi Jomâa, with the president of the European Commission, José Manuel Durão Barroso and his counterpart at the European Council, Hermann Van Rompuy, who provided assurances of Tunisia's participation in this meeting.
The Tunisian coordinator stated that “the EU's role will be crucial”. Sioud pointed out that the two behind the initiative are the central member states in Europe and the EU remains Tunisia's main economic and financial partner. He also noted that Italy, which has just taken over the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU, had already provided “encouraging signs” towards Tunisia and the whole Mediterranean area. Sioud indicated that “we are counting on its determination because in addition to its role in the EU, Italy is one of the most proactive countries in the '5+5' group” (western Mediterranean). (FB)