Brussels, 30/03/2015 (Agence Europe) - “European Council President Donald Tusk and High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini will visit Tunis on Tuesday 31 March, accompanied by the EU counter-terrorism coordinator, Gilles de Kerchove, to assure the Tunisian people of the total solidarity of the European Union and to explore ways of increasing the EU's support to Tunisia”, says a press release published on Sunday 29 March. An international march against terrorism took place in Tunis the same day, following the attack on the Bardo Museum.
The presidents of France and Poland and several heads of government - including from two neighbouring countries, Italy (represented by Matteo Renzi) and Algeria (represented by Abdelmalek Sellal) - took part in this march, which brought together tens of thousands of members of the population and officials.
The visit of Tusk, Mogherini and de Kerchove to Tunisia two days after the march is expected to enable “issues of regional stability, illegal migration and terrorist threats to be addressed”. In the press release, Tusk underlines the political interest of this move just towards Tunisia “because through [Tunisia], it is freedom and democracy that were targeted”. The EU is “more determined than ever to strengthen its cooperation with Tunisia in the face of this terrorist threat that we share and to intensify our relations further for the benefit of our peoples from both sides of the Mediterranean. At the same time, we must together attack the roots of regional instability and its consequences such as illegal migration and terrorism”.
“The Tunisians' response in the face of this trial confirms how greatly they want to defend their democracy and stability in Tunisia”, says Mogherini. “The EU's responsibility is to continue to accompany the construction of a strong Tunisian democracy”. Mogherini spoke about Europe's approach as regards security: “Our cooperation [in this area] must be accelerated, but it is also by developing our cooperation and our exchanges in all areas that we will offer young Tunisians, like all young Europeans, real opportunities and prospects for the future. Tunisia can count on the EU.” The EU “will this year set up a €25 million support programme for the Ministry of the Interior on the fight against terrorism and a programme of around €10 million for the Ministry of Culture and Heritage Protection” (our translation throughout). This announcement was made in Tunis by the EU delegation to Tunisia following a visit to the Bardo Museum by the European ambassadors posted in Tunisia. (Fathi B'Chir)